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THE    TROUBLE 


LIVING     ALONE. 

$  (Uofcef. 


F.  B.  HOFMAN. 


All  the  deliciousness  of  the  purer  parts  of  my   life   comes   back  to  me,   when 
contemplating  what  is  right. 


BOSTON 
Arena  Publishing  Company 

COPLEY  SQUARE 

1894 


COPYRIGHT 
BT  F.  B.  HOFMAN, 

1894. 


All  rights  reserved. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Up  prance  the  mighty  hordes 

Of  fears,  pretensions,  sections,  callous  creeds 

And  drivel  wisdom 

Set  with  selfish  tears. 

As  rolls  the  mighty  deep  its  roaring  waves 

O'er  landscapes  hidden  from  inquiring  eyes 

Down,  deep,  bedaggled,  with  such  weighty  gloom 

False  ideas  rage  submerging  where  the  fair 

Might  range  with  pleasing  air. 

There  reptiles  grovel  —  so  are  cares  infest ! 

Down,  deep,  there  lurks  suspicion,  serpent-like, 

And  preys  on  hiding  foes ; 

It  lives  not  by  its  nourishment 

But  on  its  self-wrought  woes ! 

Kind  creatures,  heed  the  lesson  of  the  hour ! 

If  glittering  gold  no  human  eyes  perceive 

And  silver's  shimmer  be  enwrapped  in  gloom 

Would  you  be  dazzled  by  the  thought  thereof? 

Intrinsic  value  ranges  with  its  creed  — 

Oft  when  the  hour  of  need  is  sorely  pressed 

That  merits  solely  that  has  not  abscessed. 

Then  onwards  falls  the  onslaught  — 

Amidst  the  din  and  terrors  of  the  battle-cries 

The  tumult  rising,  swaying  to  and  fro, 

Anon  a  vantage,  e'er  the  warfares'  fates, 

The  blistering,  torrid  thought  comes  home, 

"It  is  a  war  — 


INTRODUCTION. 

Would  I  were  safe  where  cooling  springs  lave  fevered 

brow, 
And  arms  of  love  entwine  espoused  their  lord 
And  cooing  words ! " 

No  sigh  that  heaves  such  as  the  weary  one, 
Meet  is  for  anguish,  frenzy,  brings  despair; 
List!  hearkening  soul, 
The  battle  wages,  hot ! 

At  night  the  birdlings  seek  their  tenored  rest, 
One  nutter  and  a  pipe  ere  they  sink  low  — 
Gloom  brings  them  peace 
Or  such  security  as  suits  them  best,  the  lift  from  care. 


THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 


CHAPTER  I. 


£ORN  AND  REARED. 


I  was  born  within  the  cheerful  confines  of  the  old  Buck- 
eye state,  where  I  played,  studied,  dreamed  and  labored, 
until  in  early  manhood  a  spirit  of  roving  took  me  away 
from  the  serene  hills  and  peaceful  valleys  of  my  native 
home,  whose  picturesqueness  was  thereafter  to  linger  for 
me  solely  in  my  fondly  indulged  remembrance  of  its  love. 

Not  altogether  of  alight  nor  for  that  matter  either  of  a 
morose  temperament,  I  possessed  a  spirit  more  turbulent 
and  refractory  than  placid.  I  roved  and  wandered  always  — 
if  not  in  fact,  then  with  my  fancies,  and  in  the  latter  as 
well  many  real  moments  of  delight  were  spent  in  locali- 
ties where  all  the  delicious  luxury  of  color  and  sound  rapt 
the  senses  in  ecstasies  of  pleasure. 

I  could  portray  joy's  glorious  peace, 

-I  could  discover  truth  and  rest; 

I  could  disport  where  pleased  me  best. 

Some  at  least  of  the  vagaries  of  my  enterprising  fancy 
were  to  be  realized — some  exceeded.     These  things  need 


2  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

not  startle  us,  did  we  but  employ  our  natural  wisdom;  in 
their  innovations  on  anything  my  mind  had  yet  conceived 
or  knowledge  comprehended,  I  realized  how  nature  in  the 
appreciable  constructions  of  the  Great  Creator  excels  our 
conjectures,  and  proves,  in  the  most  homely  way,  that  our- 
selves cannot  contrive  as  well  as  has  already  been  done  for 
us  —  ourselves  only  a  part  of  the  great  structure.  I 
learned,  more  and  more,  to  have  faith  in  the  sublimity 
of  things;  to  apprehend,  that  in  the  bosom  and  in  the 
mind  there  might  awaken  in  the  plainest  manner  the 
strongest  confidence  in  and  consciousness  of  a  higher 
Power  and  that  Power  through  its  consistent  and  persist- 
ent invocation  reduce  the  resistance  to  our  earnest  desires 
to  the  smallest  part.  Proceeding,  in  trepidation,  it  was. 
with  anguish  and  fearful  concern,  that  I  attempted  to 
sound  the  depths,  immeasurable,  inscrutable ;  to  grasp  the 
illimitable;  to  comprehend  the  indivisible ;  to  plunge  into 
the  darkness,  with  the  pulsations  of  the  heart  almost 
stilled  by  apprehension — only  to  be  buoyed  and  guided, 
in  protection  all  the  more  grateful  and  colossal,  in  that 
its  succoring  might  contrived  through  a  mysterious  and 
unf oreknown  force  and  influence  —  the  simple  potency  of 
faith.  Why  should  I  contrive:  casting  upwards,  for 
power  to  survey  the  whole  from  off  the  commanding 
heights,  I  need  but  trust,  to  find  the  elevating  spirit  to 
give  elucidation  to  my  troubled  brain. 

If  inspiration  comes  unto  the  wicked's  score 
And  gilds  his  phantoms  of  a  beauteous  store, 
Because  persistence  merits  its  fair  lore, 
Then  may  not  well  obtain  the  higher  cause, 
As  thus  receiving  start  where  oth'r  must  pause 
And  then  soar  upwards,  by  the  same  curt  laws  ? 


I    START. 


CHAPTER  II. 


It  was  a  glorious  morning;  the  snn  rose  in  all  its  splen- 
dor, and  the  outlook  for  my  journey  to  be  regarded  as 
auspicious ;  on  the  other  hand,  there  lay  in  this  brightness 
and  joyousness  of  nature  not  the  least  suggestion  of  tears 
or  regret  at  my  departure.  Indeed,  there  was  no  one 
particularly  interested  in  this  event,  at  least  to  my  knowl- 
edge; though  what  tender,  maidenly  heart  may  have 
pulsated,  or  lips  slightly  quivered  upon  reading  of  my 
departure  in  the  morning  paper,  I  shall  never  know. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  severance  of  my  social  and 
commercial  relations  with  my  native  place  was  devoid  of 
the  usual  pain  of  such  partings.  With  a  trifling  incum- 
brance of  baggage  and  a  purse  which  held  no  inducement 
to  indolence  or  reckless  extravagance,  I  proceeded  to  the 
depot — but  not  without  a  little  shade  or  gloom  falling 
upon  me  as  I  in  passing  looked  more  closely  at  each  famil- 
iar object.  I  was  not  quite  as  indifferent  as  I  appeared, 
or  as  my  cheery  greetings  or  responses  to  the  few  astir  at 
the  early  hour  before  the  business-world  had  resumed  its 
humdrum,  tended  to  show.  And  if  I  passed  through  a 
street  whose  directness  could  not  have  recommended  it  to 
me  (I  had  taken  the  precaution  to  start  early)  can  you 
question  the  feeling  that  led  me  past  the  abode  of  one 
whose  sweet  innocent  eyes  were  yet  closed  in  slumber,  the 
fair  one,  glorious  in  my  imagination  and  to  my  eyes,  utterly 
unconscious  of  me,  unless,  indeed,  at  such  moments  some 
angel  may  whisper  in  caressing  dream,  that  the  incense  of 


4  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

devotion  is  nigh  ?  Nor  knows  she,  that  one  whose  distant 
admiration  was  the  sole  advance  he  dared  —  that,  too, 
without  recompense  from  her,  then  and  there  silently 
poured  out  the  soft  anguish  of  his  sufferings ;  and  if  per- 
haps a  subtle  uneasiness  caused  her  to  start  from  her 
repose,  she  will  never  indict  for  she  knew  me  not, 
unless  her  glorious  eyes  may  have  rested  a  moment  on 
mine,  and  the  delicate  fabric  of  her  memory  been 
imprinted  by  the  ardor  of  my  gaze  at  that  time. 

Thus,  my  last  devotion  completed;  and  my  memory 
hastened  back  to  other  maidenly  charms,  whose  possessors' 
smiles  I  had  unworthily  enjoyed,  with  a  touch  of 
regret.  The  trees,  the  shrubbery,  the  grass ;  the  hills, 
near  and  in  the  distance ;  the  limpid  stream,  which 
had  often  given  me  refreshment  and  sport;  the  church- 
spires  ;  the  court-house,  whose  clock-bell  was  then  pealing 
the  few  strokes  of  the  hour;  the  houses;  at  length  to 
them  all  farewell. 

I  thought  so  callous  and  austere  had  grown  my  heart, 
That  I  could  leave  these  scenes  with  ne'er  a  sigh, 
But,  yet,  my  spirit-heart  effulges  to  my  eye. 

I  was  perfectly  agreed  with  myself  to  lean  back  in  the 
soft  cushioned  seat  of  the  railway  coach,  to  close  my  eyes, 
to  forget;  to  hear,  see,  comprehend  nothing  —  nothing, 
until  away  from  those  familiar  scenes;  and  as,  after 
awhile,  a  drowsiness  stole  over  me,  the  ensuing  slumber 
and  consequent  oblivion  was  an  agreeable  curtain  to  the 
last  hour. 


I  BEGIN    TO  WANDER. 


CHAPTER  III. 


I    BEGIN    TO    WANDER. 


When  I  again  realized  my  surroundings,  I  was  far 
enough  from  my  boyhood  haunts  to  become  at  once  aroused, 
and  interested  in  what  met  my  view.  Youth  is  not  com- 
patible with  prolonged  grief  and  channels,  by  which  a  suc- 
cession of  thoughts  at  that  time  of  life  may  course,  are 
even  easily  deviated  by  every  new  object  in  the  way. 
Strangely  enough  to  one  inexperienced,  the  people  who 
came  in  sight,  as  we  passed,  resembled  so  closely,  in 
some  or  many  features,  well-known  friends  or  acquaint- 
ances at  home,  that  I  was  almost  inclined  to  accost  them 
with  familiar  greetings — and  my  close  gaze  directed  to 
some  was  at  times  undoubtedly  disconcerting  to  them. 

The  world  becomes  more  circumscribed  and  the  relation- 
ship between  its  inmates  less  diversified  as  one  wanders 
farther  and  remains  longer  from  home.  These  sensations 
are  unique  and  peculiar  to  the  traveler ;  and,  after  a  certain 
distance,  his  whole  native  state  is  composed  of  "friends" 
and  "  relations."  Anyone  he  may  meet  therefrom,  and,  sub- 
sequently, anyone  from  his  whole  native  country  becomes 
kindred  to  him. 

Upon  reaching  the  mountains,  their  acclivities  and  declivi- 
ties at  places  on  the  two  sides  of  the  railroad  presented  a 
rather  startling  effect  to  the  verdant  mind  in  prime  con- 
dition for  the  first  impressions  of  the  wonders  of  creation, 
art  and  science,  as  exhibited  elsewhere.  I  wondered  at 
habitations  hung  on  bleak  sides,  or  placed  in  lonely  hollows; 
that  beings  like  myself  should  exist  and  move  there.    Con- 


6  TUE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

jectured  whether  they  felt  just  or  similarly  as  I  did  or  not. 
I  noted  the  girls  and  boys  old  enough  to  comprehend,  per- 
haps dreaming  of  the  day,  when  they  too  might  break 
through  this  stillness  and  monotony  into  that  strangely 
imagined  world  beyond  —  perhaps,  too,  thereafter,  only 
some  day  to  wander  back  to  that  peaceful  shelter  for  a 
solace  from  that  same  glittering  outside  turmoil  and 
tumult  with  its  attendant  shocks.  I  contemplated  the  silent 
majesty  of  those  straight  forest  constituents  whose  multi- 
tude is  yielding  to  the  axman's  strokes  and  prowess  for 
man's  fantastical  and  fanciful  manipulations  and  pastime 
of  this  earthly  career,  perforce,  to  become  a  source 
and  subject  of  quarrels,  dissensions  and  wrangles  more 
tangled  than  the  brush,  that  impedes  the  ready  view  and 
way,  and  yet  from  an  origin  so  plain  and  simple  and  not 
yet  nor  need  be  exhausted ;  the  indigenous  flowers,  those 
bright  little  luminaries,  that  cheer  the  aching  or  wearily 
home-sick  heart  by  recalling  recollections  of  their  little 
kindred  at  home;  the  wild  rushing  brooks,  refreshing  to 
the  eye  in  the  dust  and  smoke  of  the  train. 

On  this  mysterious  propulsion  bore  us  —  perhaps  to  our 
imminent  destruction,  perhaps  to  pleasure  —  this  presently 
united  concourse  never  to  be  identically  together  again. 
The  stops  for  refreshment  and  other  incidents  in  the  train- 
service  varied  the  monotony ;  but  to  my  eager,  excited  mind 
and  alert  feelings  nothing  had  become  irksome ;  every  sight 
made  its  impression  as  yet,  nothing  seemed  a  repetition  —  a 
devotion  to  nature  which,  by  the  way,  forms  a  marked  ele- 
ment in  my  disposition !  Passing  what  hours  of  night  and 
repose  intervened,  to  the  latter  of  which  a  young,  vigorous 
nature  willingly  accedes,  there  occurred  nothing  of  note,  to 
my  knowledge,  excepting  the  novelty  of  my  situation. 

Shall  this  wild  freak  yet  take  me  further  on  ? 
Have  I  not  trembled  when  perused  ere  late 


I  BEGIN   TO    WANDER.  7 

Or  at  my  father's  knee  the  tale  was  told 
Of  wily  tongues  that  could  of  fortunes  prate 
And  sirens  coyly  such  sweet  bliss  unfold  ? 
How  have  I  heard  this  is  the  cruel  share 
The  wretch  abandoned  scarcely  dares  to  prog, 
While  starving  mites  first  weeting  curse  their  lots ; 
And  I  had  plenty  on  the  fatted  hog 
And  my  demands  were  honored  on  the  spots. 
Then  I  was  innocent  and  gay  and  free  — 
Although  the  fantasy  of  what  is  not 
Distorted  through  my  wild,  conceited  brain; 
That  life  were  joy  where  every  trail  is  hot; 
That  in  the  tumult  surely  there  be  gain. 
What  fond,  deluded  wretch  not,  now  grown  sere, 
Might  whisper  word  to  friv'lous  youth,  beware ! 
Might  turn  the  tide,  where  well  it  were  to  stem, 
Could  that  young  blood  esteem  the  wisdom  there 
Learned  by  hard  fate  enclosed  by  ripless  hem. 
Where  well  is  meed  it  to  thy  pleasant  part — 
This  life  too  short  to  stir  the  bitter  dregs. 
There  still  remain,  by  fortune's  fickle  throw, 
Those  who  must  strive  (and  this  your  pity  begs) 
All  innate  genius  learns  this  lot  to  know. 
For  peace  and  joy  reign  where  the  mind  is  still 
From  whirls  and  wild,  disturbed,  weird  desire, 
A  reach,  a  searching  after  things,  which  chill 
When  even  found;  thus  any  genius'  fire 
But  must  at  length  still  smoulder  to  the  fate 
That  naught  of  worldly  can  all  blasts  endure, 
So  much  of  toil  that  moves  in  any  state 
That  glances  oft  seek  furtively  death's  door. 

How  one  would  feel  in  walking  in  the  air  or  on  clouds, 
I  do  not  knoAv ;  but  when  I  stepped  from  the  train  at 
Washington,  I  heeded  not  nor  felt  the  ground,  for  my  head 
was  in  a  whirl  between  apprehension  and  confusion.  The 
pushing,  piling,  rushing,  crowding  throng ;  the  babel  of 
voices ;  escaping  and  puffing  steam,  and  smoke ;  the  cries 
of  hackmen  and  hotel-runners,  certainly  fulfilled  my  ideas 


8  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

and  desires  of 'bustle  and  excitement  —  what  country -boy 
but  has  pictured  to  himself  the  importance  he  might  attain 
if  he  could  only  reach  this  plane  of  existence.  Checking 
my  baggage  I  sallied  forth  with  all  the  nonchalance  I 
could  muster.  To  the  invitations  of  hotel-runners  I  tried 
very  knowingly  to  shake  my  head,  having  predetermined 
to  reconnoiter  before  selecting  my  hostelry,  and  to  base 
my  selection  on  what  my  observation  and  inquiry  might 
discover.  I  carry  my  ordinary  quantity  of  shrewdness 
about  me  with  the  purpose  of  putting  it  in  use;  and  if  I 
could  not  entirely  conceal  my  verdancy  from  experienced 
eyes,  I  still  hoped  to  convey  a  sufficient  impression  of  solid- 
ity to  remain  unmolested.  Direction  was  of  no  imme- 
diate concern  to  me,  nor  time  to  prosecute  it  in,  so  that  by 
following  the  body  of  the  crowd  I  could  in  no  event  go 
much  afoul.  The  buildings,  private  and  public,  began  to 
loom  up,  and  the  streets  and  cross-streets  and  their  pedes- 
trians and  vehicles,  to  and  fro,  bent  on  some  mission  inci- 
dental to  this  jamboree  of  life,  paraded  themselves  before 
me.  I  soon  began  to  look  at  everybody,  which  caused 
everybody  to  survey  me,  and  I  presume  our  admiration  was 
mutual  for  I  began  to  think  a  somewhat  contemptuous  look 
the  proper  thing  in  a  large  city.  Once  or  twice,  true,  some 
insignificant  bootblack  or  newsboy  indulged  in  some 
humorous  remark  or  other,  addressed  to  me,  but,  I  regarded 
such  indifferently.     I  advanced  without  forcible  opposition. 

In  due  course  and  circuitous  order  I  visited  the  notable 
objects  of  interest,  and  found  interest  in  many  other 
objects,  and  passed  the  massive  residences,  with  their 
outer  show  and  inner  speculation. 

Resting  on  a  seat  on  one  occasion,  in  one  of  the  shady 
park-retreats,  the  quiet  and  freshness  of  the  old  Buckeye 
farm  with  the  flowers  and  purling  brooks  and  sweet 
repose  of  nature  wafted  themselves  forcibly  on  my  mem- 


I  BEGIN    TO    WANDER.  9 

Ory,  as  the  incessancy  of  passers-by,  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren, hurried  on  the  fretful  courses,  the  look  of  peace 
nowhere  portrayed.  Was  I  impressed  at  the  sight  of  the 
government  great  buildings  ?  Of  course ;  though,  when  I 
entered  with  awe,  veneration  and  even  superstitious  dread 
the  stately  halls  where  wise  men  are  supposed  to  assemble, 
and  surveyed  the  statesmen,  their  attitudes  and  conduct,  I 
lost  some  of  my  pristine  aspirations.  Soon  I  became 
absorbed  in  the  architectural  and  designed  intricacies  of 
the  building;  and  could  not  help  ruminating  on  the 
expected  modern  perpetuation  of  the  principles  depicted 
in  those  noble  and  gorgeous  historical  paintings.  And  if 
the  White  House  and  its  occupants  became  less  the  objects 
of  my  excitement,  it  was  because  of  their  mere  humanity 
controlling  and  composing  their  existence,  less  appreciated 
at  a  distance,  and  by  the  ordinary,  popular  delusion  in 
the  instruments  of  government;  it  began  to  dawn  upon 
me  that  to  find  anything  removed  from  the  frailties  of 
these  worldly  affairs  man's  art  and  construction  must  not 
be  sought,  and  that,  after  the  physical  and  mental  wants 
axe  supplied  that  enter  naturally  in  due  course  into  our 
regimen,  the  remainder  —  the  gloss  and  glitter  —  may  only 
more  glaringly  disclose  weaknesses  and  can  never  apotheo- 
size. I  could  conceive  of  a  house,  in  the  midst  of  acres  of 
majestic  forest  presided  over  by  the  stately  oak,  brightened 
and  refreshed  by  a  capacious  stream  with  a  dashing  cata- 
ract by  way  of  variation,  even  in  the  loneliness  and  the 
fresh  flowers  and  grasses,  as  a  much  more  beautiful  and  in- 
spiring situation  than  the  White  House  presented,  and  the 
former's  attendant  pastimes  be  preferable.  Yet,  art  has 
there  done  much  to  make  tolerable  the  slavery  of  con- 
strained existence,  the  loss  of  nature's  glory  of  freedom; 
although,  when  trained  to  this  life,  it  becomes  unnaturally 
feasible,  as  stimulants  may  seem  to  revive  a  lost  vitality. 


10  TUE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

And  continuing  with  a  reflection  on  the  petulancies  that 
enter  into  the  so-called  delights  of  the  closer  and  refined 
sociabilities  with  our  fellowman  and  woman  and  purveyed 
on  the  positions  of  rank  and -dominance,  I  could  see  so  lit- 
tle hut  decidedly  inferior  to  the  conditions  of  naturally 
moving  graces  and  adaptations  without  the  inquisitive, 
inquisitorial  decrees  and  curiosities  of  our  fellowman. 

I  soon  encountered  some  adventures,  too.  An  elegant 
young  man,  who  addressed  me  with  the  familiarity  of  an 
old  acquaintance,  invited  me  to  take  a  walk  with  him  — 
but,  his  proposed  direction  being  contrary  to  mine,  I 
declined.  A  little  later,  a  most  delicious  being,  superbly 
attired,  smiled  benignantly  and  lingeringly  at  me ;  I  had 
never  beheld  the  like  before  —  a  female  angel  sprung  into 
being,  and  so  gracious,  too.  Yet  I  felt  abashed,  knowing 
that  so  resplendent  a  creature  would  find  little  in  me  to 
interest  her,  my  qualifications  extending  not  even  to  the 
intelligent  discussion  of  the  prospective  corn-crop.  I  pos- 
sessed nothing  to  offer  her,  except  a  restless  mind — she 
accustomed  to  ambrosial  delectations,  no  doubt;  hence, 
my  consideration  forbade  me  cruelly  to  inflict  myself  upon 
her,  in  which  forbearance  I  was  well  fortified  by  a  strong 
shyness  and  diffidence.  But  the  apparition  continued  to 
haunt  m«e  for  several  minutes  thereafter.  And  I  have 
pondered  on  the  importance  of  our  personal  adornments  in 
respect  to  our  material  welfare. 

I  proceeded  thence  to  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New 
York  —  not  as  briefly  but  in  the  order  named.  I  spent 
some  time  at  different  respectable  employments,  though 
often  indifferently  remunerated  —  still,  ample  in  the  re- 
spect that  life  and  outward  appearance  were  decently 
maintained  and  my  small  purse  kept  intact.  I  even  on  one 
or  two  occasions  had  enough  surplus  to  indulge  in  a  parlor- 
chair  car  in  my  transit  from  one  place  to  the  other — in 


I  BEGIN   TO  WANDER.  11 

fact,  never  worried,  being  convinced  of  the  Divine  interces- 
sion in  the  sparrow's  faithful  behalf. 

Hustling,  bustling,  toiling,  whirling, 
Tumbling,  tossing,  seething,  boiling, 
Teasing,  tearing,  trembling,  scaring, 
Well-nigh  fainting,  all  ill-faring, 
None  but  merits  pity's  sharing, 
And  the  crash,  that  knows  no  sparing, 
Ceaseless  turmoil,  headlong  plunging, 
Cruel  shift  and  crafty  lunging ;  — 
Ever,  on  the  downward  bearing, 
Climbing,  mounting,  yet,  despairing, 
Naught  for  rest  but  wrecks  comparing : 
Fleeting  quicksands  make  no  stairing. 

I  received  the  impression,  that  about  all  the  body  of  the 
great  mass  of  people  was  doing  for  elevation  and  progress, 
was  to  climb  over  and  on  each  other,  in  the  delusion  that 
despite  the  crushing  weight  at  the  expense  of  others  they 
might  be  enabled  to  reach  something  higher ;  when  happi- 
ness is,  all  the  time,  in  and  about  and  around  us,  and  not 
in  dazzling  heights,  and  requiring  but  our  reach  of  realiz- 
ation. This,  then,  was  the  life  I  had  sighed  for — which 
my  innocent  rural  surroundings  and  the  vociferous 
announcements  of  the  morning-cock  had  not  suggested. 
Well,  I  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  ungratified  desire  in 
that  regard,  and  had  better  not  confess  chagrin  to  sustain 
my  pride. 

How  has  it  come  to  pass  that  those  massive  structures  — 
so  much  admired  and  representing  an  aggregate  of  skillful 
endeavor,  yet  after  all  not  so  wonderful  from  another 
standpoint  —  so  generally  are  but  monuments  of  deceit  and 
conceit  ?  When  I  contemplated  the  amount  of  oppression 
and  polished  hypocrisy,  that  thrived  as  the  fundament  of 
and    within    those    walls,    I    shuddered    at    the  existing, 


12  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

prevailing  agony,  clearly  perceptible,  yet  tolerated.  It  is 
hard  to  believe,  that  in  this  must  inevitably  ensue  or 
transpire  the  affairs  of  this  world  despite  any  human 
efforts  or  precautions.  Perhaps  it  is  true;  but  sad 
in  every  phase  and  aspect !  Lax  morals  make  loose 
principles ;  and  to  this  touchstone  much  of  our  bitterness 
may  be  traced.  The  unheard  voice,  impotent  in  its  silence, 
when  its  truthful  courageous  utterances  might  serve  or 
save  a  fellow-human,  because  of  its  unknown  sentiments 
is  reckoned  as  endorsing  these  pernicious  practices,  and  so 
in  effect  does,  conducing  furthermore  to  these  conditions 
and  allowing  the  management  by  unworthy  servitors. 
While  ease  and  rest  are  desirable,  it  is  yet  better  that  all 
good  men  and  women  exert  themselves  with  the  industry, 
alertness  and  carefully  accpaired  knowledge,  which  those 
who  are  injuring  our  whole  fabric  persist  in  —  abstractly 
considered,  so  creditably.  The  success,  merited  by  every 
industrious  effort,  is  evidence  of  what  may  be  accomplished 
by  care  and  watchfulness,  knowing  no  night  of  slumber, 
keeping  vigil  ever — for  the  success  of  evil  must  depend 
largely  upon  the  slumbering  of  right. 

After  a  period,  during  which  I  added  considerably  to 
my  meagre  knowledge  and  experience,  I  began  to  consider 
the  advisability  as  well  as  possibility,  of  yielding  to  an 
ardent  desire  I  had  long  felt  to  make  an  ocean  trip;  and 
as  among  other  pleasant  and  to  me,  in  different  ways,  very 
helpful  people  I  had  met  the  captain  of  a  sea-going  vessel, 
who  had  begun  to  entertain  for  me  a  certain  kindly  inter- 
est, I  broached  the  subject  to  him,  and  his  response  was 
favorable  and  cordial.  So  I  was  to  bid  good-by  to  firm 
soil  for  a  period  and  in  the  sequel  farewell  to  my  native 
land. 


i  ESSAY  THE  DEEP.  13 


CHAPTER   IV. 


I    ESSAY    THE    DEEP. 


For  the  purpose  of  this  narrative  it  will  suffice  to  say 
that  the  vessel  on  which  I  shipped  was  one  of  the  largest, 
newest  and  best  equipped  of  its  kind,  and  indeed  a  veri- 
table little  palace  on  the  briny,  trackless  expanse.  My 
duties,  owing  to  the  especial  contrivance  of  my  friend, 
were  not  arduous,  more  in  the  nature  of  a  companionship 
to  my  adjutor,  and  I  was  thus  constantly  enabled  to  expe- 
rience the  inspiration  of  the  occasion. 

It  is  not  without  emotion,  that  I  recall  many  inci- 
dents. With  the  kind  hearts  on  board,  with  the  excellent 
provisions  and  cuisine,  the  pleasant  sports  and  jollity,  the 
monotony,  which  is  engendered  by  the  daily  view  of 
almost  unbroken  identity,  was  scarcely  irksome,  and  for 
many  moods  became  almost  blissful.  Day  after  day 
passed,  and  the  little  band  grew  closer  and  closer  together, 
intercourse  becoming  less  strained  and  real  esteem  more 
marked,  so  that  some  were  beginning  to  proconceive  the 
pain  of  separation,  that  should  soon  take  place,  and  others 
to  devise  some  plan  for  future  meeting  with  some  select 
one  or  company. 

The  last  day  on  Avhich  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  enjoy 
their  company,  found  an  assemblage  that  could  not  be 
excelled  anywhere  for  the  good 'cheer,  happy  hopes  and 
kindly  disposition  toward  one  another,  which  seemed  to 
move  and  stimulate  each  individual.  If  any  forebodings 
were  harbored,  or  some  spirit  of  evil  presaged  in  the 
bosom  of  anyone  the  impending  calamity,  there   was   no 


14  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

indication,  not  the  slightest  external  ripple  of  it;  and  I 
felt  no  cross-grain  in  the  flights  of  my  gaiety.  Toward 
noon  and  after  the  meal,  flecks  of  clouds  became  notice- 
able, and  as  the  atmospheric  conditions  changed  the 
weather-beaten  countenances  of  the  old  experienced  cap- 
tain and  some  of  the  other  seamen  seemed,  even  to  us,  to 
take  on  a  more  serious  aspect ;  and  before  long  even  the 
quiet  orders  aroused  somewhat  our  apprehensions.  But 
nothing  particular  was  said,  and  no  great  amount  of  alarm 
became  prevalent,  the  gayer  ones  even  growing  more  bois- 
terous. Still,  we  were  evidently  approaching  a  storm,  and 
probably  a  very  violent  one,  as  the  captain  toward  even- 
ing admitted  to  me.  I  was  not  much  frightened  and  in 
due  time  sought  my  bunk,  and  was,  ere  many  minutes,  in 
the  realm  where  no  disturbance  pained  my  ear  or  grief  my 
heart.  What  little  additional  commotion  had  by  this 
time  arisen,  and  the  swaying  of  the  ship,  but  calmed  and 
soothed  me  as  I  slept. 


CHAPTER  V. 


STARTLING 


When  I  awoke,  what  was  my  astonishment  to  find  my- 
self lying  on  the  floor  of  the  cabin,  with  a  very  sore  ach- 
ing head  and  sickly  sensations  throughout  my  body.  I 
listened ;  all  was  silent,  save  the  splash  of  the  waves.  A 
queer,  fearful  sensation,  in  the  deathlike  silence  excited  my 
alarm,  and  feeling  that  something  was  wrong,  I  started 
up  only  to  be  attracted  to  myself  by  the  pain  my  move- 
ment called  forth;  then,  putting  my  hand  to  my  head,  I 
felt  that  it  had  been  bruised  as  though  by  a  heavy  fall  or 


STARTLING!  15 

hard  blow;   my  position  on  the  floor  would  indicate  the 
former. 

The  sun  was  shining  brightly  as  the  light  through  the 
port-hole  glass  indicated,  and  I  imagined  that  the  day  was 
well-advanced.  I  again  started  up,  my  misgivings  increas- 
ing with  every  moment,  unlocked  and  opened  the  door  and 
went  out  into  the  corridor.  The  door  of  the  opposite  cabin 
stood  open,  the  room  was  deserted  and  everything  in  con- 
fusion. I  took  it  in  at  a  glance,  but  did  not  dwell  on  the 
spectacle.  I  was  wild  to  get  out  beyond,  to  assure  or 
reassure  myself  of  something,  I  knew  not,  could  not  con- 
jecture what.  I  went  on.  Not  a  person,  but  an  ominous 
stillness  was  there,  and  I  was  soon  groping  in  darkness, 
for  all  the  openings  admitting  light  to  the  part  I  now  had 
reached  were  closed,  which  alarmed  me  beyond  measure 
and  seemed  to  fulfill  my  worst  forebodings.  I  found  the 
stairs  leading  to  the  deck,  which  I  rapidly  ascended,  and 
found  the  covering  to  this  hatchway  fortunately  unfastened. 
I  stepped  on  deck  —  nobody  in  sight;  I  ran  all  around  the 
deck,  at  a  breathless  speed,  and  shouted  and  called  —  all 
in  vain.  Everywhere  were  the  evidences  of  a  fearfully 
devastating  storm  or  hurricane,  and  —  could  it  be  true  — 
the  ship  had  been  abandoned,  and  I  was  left  behind  or 
forgotten  —  I  remained  here  alone!  My  first  impulse  was 
of  terrible  bitterness  and  full  of  reproach.  Then  my 
reflections  staggered  me;  it  was  no  time  for  reviling  any- 
thing, certainly  not  my  late,  good  friends,  when  I  as  yet 
knew  nothing  of  them.  But  I  buried  my  face  in  my  hands 
in  agony.  Again,  recollecting  myself,  I  fancied  that  per- 
haps my  apprehensions  were  only  to  be  partially  realized, 
and,  again  running,  I  proceeded  to  investigate  all  parts  of 
the  ship ;  I  hurried,  I  stopped,  I  listened ;  after  a  little 
while  I  again  called,  and — more  and  more  it  forced  itself 
upon  my  convictions,  that  my  first  dreadful  belief  was  true. 


16  TUE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Beaching  the  side  of  the  vessel,  other  than  the  one  to 
which  I  had  ascended  and  for  the  first  time  looking  beyond 
the  confines  of  it,  I,  to  my  overwhelming  surprise,  beheld 
frocks  and  land — saw  that  we  had  run  on  the  rocks.  1 
felt  like  laughing,  then  wept.  So  thus  after  all,  although 
deserted,  I  was  not  lost  —  for,  surely,  I  should  find  them 
on  shore,  or,  discovering  my  absence,  they  would  return 
or  send  back  for  me.  I  believed  nothing  else  than  that 
they  had  all  gone  on  land ;  had  I  reasoned,  I  might  have 
concluded  all  would  not  have  left,  if  not  before  the  vessel 
grounded.  The  only  supposition  then  I  could  have 
reached,  would  have  been  that  they  had  gone  ashore  in 
the  boats ;  but  excitement  does  not  reason.  And  I  began 
to  feel  easy,  and  to  examine  more  critically  the  direful 
change  which  a  fearful  night  must  have  wrought,  and  to 
experience  the  novelty  of  a  wrecked  ship.  (I  will  add 
here,  that  my  expectations  of  seeing  again  my  fellow- 
passengers  were  never  realized ;  and  to  me  their  fates  are 
unknown  —  whether  the  merciless,  briny  deep  engulfed 
them  or  their  bleached  bones  lie  scattered  upon  some  burn- 
ing beach ;  or  whether  happy  homes  and  friends  again 
welcomed  any  of  them.  But  I  suspect  that  I  am  the  only 
one  left  to  relate  this  unhappy  occurrence,  though  whether 
it  will  ever  reach  other  ears,  I,  at  this  distance  and  as 
yet  shut  off  from  the  outside  world,  cannot  say.  Perhaps, 
an  all-absorbing  gloom  will  forever  seal  their  fate  and  my 
own  in  oblivion;  but  I  believe  an  all-abiding  God  will 
make  the  disclosure.  God  bless  their  memories!)  Still 
nervous,  however,  I  glanced  about.  Every  evidence  be- 
tokened a  heart-rending  time  which  the  kind  indulgence  of 
Providence  had  spared  me.  The  masts  had  been  splint- 
ered off,  and  that  heavy  seas  had  washed  and  drenched 
every  portion  of  the  surface,  there  was  plenty  of  indica- 
tion.    And  upon  furthur  investigation  it  seemed  to  me 


STARTLING!  17 

that  the  departure  must  have  occurred  precipitately,  at 
any  rate  all  the  boats  and  almost  every  means  of  escape 
had  been  employed  or  removed  (which,  alone,  had  my 
reasoning  faculties  just  then  accompanied  my  observations, 
must  have  determined  when  they  had  abandoned  the  ship), 
though  from  all  appearances  I  never  could  discover  that 
much  in  the  way  of  victualing  was  taken  along.  From 
this  I  reason  that  they  delayed  until  a  moment  when 
perhaps  in  a  panic  they  must  have  been  in  the  worst  state 
of  demoralization,  from  which  one  can  easily  picture  the 
saddest  of  results.  The  fact  that  all  the  openings  to  the 
flooding  sea  below  had  been  closed  shows  that  every 
precaution  had  been  taken  and  hope  indulged,  until  a  fatal 
moment  probably  sent  the  hundreds  of  souls  into  eternity, 
abandoning  what  would  have  been  safety.  Tributes  to 
their  memories! 

Beginning  to  feel  hungry  (I  was  at  that  time  buoyed  by 
the  expectation  of  finding  them  on  this  shore,  all  the  fore- 
going reasoning  being  the  later  calm  deliberation  of  which 
I  was  not  capable  then)  I  first  opened  the  "water  opposers," 
so  that  light  might  again  be  shed  on  the  inner  recesses; 
for  it  was  now  a  beautiful,  warm,  bright  day,  the  sun 
beaming  and  the  sky  serene  as  though  not  upon  and  over 
a  scene  of  recent  desolation.  I  proceeded  below,  first 
looking  into  the  dining-room,  where  I  saw  nothing  in  the 
way  of  eatables,  but  some  confusion  of  broken  glass,  etc. ; 
then  to  the  kitchen  and  cooking  department.  Here  there 
was  no  fire,  but  every  evidence  that  the  supper  (or 
dinner)  of  the  evening  before  was  the  last  meal  that  had 
emanated  from  this  department.  A  time-piece,  that  regis- 
tered as  well  the  date,  marked  ten  minutes  of  four  o'clock 
and  June  20 ;  so  that  my  last  recollection  of  date  being 
the  19th,  I  was  aware  that  but  one  night  had  elapsed  since 
I  had  last  retired  to  sleep  and  unconsciousness, 


18  T1IE    TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

Painful  was  the  realization,  that  I  was  alone;  and  even 
though  a  hope  still  lingered  to  beguile  my  belief  in  a 
speedy  reunion  with  my  friends,  I  must  confess  that  I  had 
a  foreboding  or  presentiment  that  they  would  never  meet 
my  gaze  again. 

Have  you  yet  known  the  deep  solicitude, 
That  yearns  the  being  for  its  species,  kind  ? 
The  silence  grows  oppressive  with  each  hour 
As  glow  the  stars  o'er  shaded  sun  still  lower. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


YET    ALONE. 


No  gentle  lips  dispose  to  welcome  sounds 

Or  give  disclosure  to  a  yearned  presence  near 

To  troll  the  mind  within  its  happy  sphere. 

The  voice  is  raucous  for  the  want  of  such  dear  use 

To  give  in  utterance  the  sweetly  searching  tones, 

That  need  a  sympathy  to  draw  them  forth 

And,  weeting,  lingeringly  permit  them  thus  to  course 

Until  their  ardors  grow  to  beauty's  rounds. 

Calm  vision  is  dispelled,  when  naught  is  seen 

Save  nature  in  its  true,  benignant  grace  — 

The  charm  still  lacking  of  the  fascinating  human  face. 

Whether  alone  in  the  multitude,  or  away  from  any 
human  habitation  or  companionship,  the  drift  of  life  stays 
not ;  and  ever  the  idea  lingers,  that  it  will  not  always  be 
thus. 

I  could  not  withstand  the  demands  of  a  young,  vigorous 
nature,  and,  despite  the  burden  that  weighed  upon  me,  my 
hunger  demanded  appeasement ;  for  which  purpose  I  had 
redescended,  shuddering  a  little,  for  I  half-dreaded  some 


YET  ALONE.  19 

ghastly  or  ghostly  apparition  out  of  the  stillness  and 
imminent  despair,  some  stalking  spirit  of  a  late  friend  (as 
though  even  if  it  should  appear,  such  would  harm  me). 
But  I  gulped  down  the  growing  lump  in  my  throat,  and 
repaired  to  a  well-supplied  larder,  where,  without  particu- 
lar choice  or  preparation  of  food  and  with  a  generous  liba- 
tion of  wine,  I  revived  my  fagging  strength.  Hastily  I 
retraced  my  course  to  the  deck ;  and  now  began  a  more 
thorough  and  systematic  survey  of  my  surroundings  and 
position.  The  ship  had  landed  or  rested  high  and  dry, 
and  to  all  appearances  was  not  much  damaged ;  it  must 
have  been  an  unusually  powerful  billow  and  gale  which 
had  placed  the  vessel  so  far  up  and  almost  out  of  future 
danger,  except  from  similar  phenomena.  I  later  saw  in 
this  a  provision  of  Providence.  My  immediate  view  toward 
land  was  cut  off  by  a  high,  rocky  shore  ;  and  after  climbing 
over  the  side  of  the  ship  and  descending  by  means  of  a  rope- 
ladder  which  I  found  conveniently  and  had  fastened  and 
adjusted  for  the  purpose,  not  without  anxious  misgivings 
I  stepped  on  the  rocks,  and  slowly,  cautiously,  as  quietly 
as  possible,  clambered  up.  Reaching  the  top,  I  looked 
upon  a  beautiful  stretch  of  country,  expanding  far  out  and 
away  in  natural  stately  grove  and  charming  meadow,  and 
in  the  distance  the  blue  outline  or  maze  seemed  to  indi- 
cate mountains.  There  were  exquisite  flowers,  in  variety, 
and  I  saw  and  heard  birds,  and  some  insects  - —  but  noth- 
ing to  denote  the  presence  of  man  in  this  locality.  The 
ocean  spread  out  grandly  behind  me  and  at  the  side  a 
charming  beach  extended  itself,  glistening  and  sparkling 
from  the  waves'  spray  and  wash,  on  this  gloriously  sunlit 
day,  azure  canopied  with  the  barest  specks  of  fleecy  cloud- 
lets interspersed.  I  could  not  suppress  a  feeling  of  admi- 
ration, and  a  blissful  calm  momentarily  came  over,  seized 
me.     "Monarch  of   all  I  surveyed,"  with   a   laden   ship 


20  Til E    TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

behind  and  an  unmeasured,  inviting  tract  before  me,  I  pro- 
ceeded farther,  always  with  the  utmost  caution  and  cir- 
cumspection, with  frequent  quisitorial  glances  about  me. 
Everything  indicated  a  fertile  soil  for  a  fructiferous 
vegetation,  and  the  scenery,  after  I  had  penetrated 
some  distance  from  the  shore,  carefully  noting  all 
the  while  any  evidences  by  which  I  might  retrace  my 
steps,  possessed  a  charm  of  uncultivated  verdure  than 
which  I  had  never  beheld  a  greater,  aided  or  unaided  by 
the  science  or  art  of  man;  but,  nowhere  did  I  find  a  trace 
of  that  creature,  and  as  the  glooms  of  evening  began  to  be 
manifest,  I  bethought  myself  of  my  return,  feeling  that 
the  only  friend  and  companion  now  left  was  one  of  man's 
handiwork  —  thus  the  human  being  ever  turns  to  his  spe- 
cies, or  in  the  absence  thereof,  seeks  comfort  in  something 
that  remains  of  its  touch.  On  remounting  the  deck  and 
nervously  pacing  thereon,  I  sighed,  "What  a  night!" 

I  sat  on  deck  long  into  the  night,  comfortably  ensconced 
with  a  preparation  for  ready  vision  both  to  the  ocean  and 
land.  Often  I  leaned  backwards,  resting  my  head  on  a 
coil  of  rope  behind  me,  watching  the  stars  burst  into  bril- 
liant darts  and  points,  just  as  they  did  at  home;  and  the 
moon  arose,  half  full,  to  cast  serenity,  beauty  and  efful- 
gence upon  the  benign  scene.  Yet  I  contrasted  this  unfa- 
vorably with  the  preceding  evenings,  with  a  sad  comment 
on  the  suddenness  of  sorrow.  With  turbulence  in  my 
heart  I  began  to  think  upon  and  plan  my  future  conduct, 
with  no  satisfactory  solution  of  the  vexed  and  mooted 
question.  Fatigued  nature  gradually  asserted  itself,  and 
the  balminess  of  the  delightful  summer-night  began  to 
yield  to  the  influences  of  the  shades,  admonishing  me  to 
seek  rest  and  shelter.  Going  toward  my  cabin  (I  still 
occupied  my  own,  although  they  now  all  and  any  stood 
open  to  me)  I  securely  barred  every  avenue  of  approach 


YET  ALONE.  21 

to  me,  lastly  bolting  my  cabin-door,  and,  with  a  half 
smothered  sigh  and  muttered  groan,  threw  myself, 
dressed,  into  my  bunk,  to  sink  shortly  with  sweet  wel- 
come into  the  oblivion  of  sleep. 

I  awoke  and  it  was  light,  and  but  a  moment  sufficed  for 
recollection.  The  time  had  come  when  I  must  think  and 
act.  Ascending  to  the  deck,  as  the  first  duty  and  precau- 
tion, I  assured  myself  that  everything  remained  as  I  had 
found  it  the  day  before;  the  weather  was  still  fine.  I 
went  down  again,  and  after  a  refreshing  and  careful  ablu- 
tion, this  time  built  a  fire  in  the  range,  and,  after  a  little 
skirmishing  and  furbishing,  prepared  a  generous  repast. 
I  had  now  cleared  for  action.  I  descried  nothing  in  the 
unbroken  horizon  of  my  mental  vision  save  the  reparation 
to  self-preservation  and  of  the  interstices  of  my  faculties. 
I  first  made  a  more  detailed,  though  still  cursory,  inspec- 
tion of  the  contents  of  my  abode.  Besides  pictures, 
musical  instruments  and  accoutrements  of  fancy,  taste, 
fastidiousness,  and  the  numerous  incidentals  of  ship 
furnishings  and  employments,  there  was  a  library,  with  — 
as  it  proved,  fortunately  for  me  —  a  comprehensive  scope. 
Besides  scientific  instruments  and  appliances,  I  found  farm- 
ing implements,  seeds,  some  plants,  merchandise  of  nearly 
all  kinds,  and  numerous  other  articles,  which  I  did  not 
then  take  time  to  examine;  also  there  remained  (but  these 
I  had  already  determined  not  to  molest  unless  the  extrem- 
ity of  affairs  demanded  or  justified)  the  trunks,  and  other 
baggage  and  personal  belongings  of  the  late  ill-fated 
passengers  and.  crew.  And  the  kitchen  stores,  supple- 
mented by  the  excellent  butlery  and  medicine  closet, 
were  well  stocked. 

I  directed  a  long  searching  observation  over  the  sea, 
using  both  field-glass  and  telescope,  of  which,  among  an 
ample  assortment,  I  selected  two  magnificent  specimens} 


22  THE   TROUBLE    OF   LIVING   ALONE. 

but  not  a  speck  appeared  to  give  me  hope.  I  next  scanned 
what  portion  I  could,  from  this  point,  of  the  land,  and 
perceived  nothing  human.  I  then  determined,  bright 
and  early,  to  issue  forth  upon  a  reconnoitering  tour,  to 
occupy  the  whole  day  if  not  checked  by  some  circumstance 
sooner;  and  I  at  once  set  about  preparing  therefor.  I 
took  with  me  food,  a  double-barreled  rifle,  revolvers, 
ammunition,  knife  and  dagger,  a  compass  and  the  glasses 
referred  to,  besides  seeing  that  my  watch  was  wound  up 
and  set  (and  the  ship's  chronometer  left  in  good  running 
order)  all  securely  strapped  and  adjusted  to  me,  save  the 
rifle,  which  I  carried  conveniently  in  my  hands  ready  for 
prompt  use.  I  might  have  come  into  collision  with  the 
laws  relative  to  carrying  concealed  weapons,  and  so  forth, 
if  there  had  been  any  such  in  force,  and  anyone  inclined  to 
insist  upon  their  provisions.  Again  reaching  the  top  of 
the  bank,  I  took  bearings  and  noted  any  conspicuous 
objects,  by  which  to  guide  my  return,  and  proceeding  in 
the  same  direction  I  had  previously  gone,  at  first  through 
the  suffrutescence,  I  soon  entered  pleasant  woods  and 
delightful  glades,  and  traversed  beautiful  natural  meadow 
patches.  Although  hampered  and  retarded,  here  and 
there,  by  brush  and  luxuriance  of  vegetation — the  undis- 
turbed accumulation,  it  would  seem,  of  ages,  only  fallen 
trees,  and  vines,  I  could  not  refrain  from  indulging  my 
unbounded  admiration  of  untrammeled  nature,  spark- 
ling in  the  freshness  of  the  early  morning's  dew- 
drops,  which  glistened  in  the  sunlight,  and  the 
delightful  air,  odoriferous  with  the  fragrance  of  exquisite 
varicolored  and  oddly  shaped  flowers  and  some  blossoms. 
It  approached  indeed  my  idea  of  the  garden  of  Eden  — 
only  there  lacked  a  sweet  companion  for  me  to  complete 
the  bower  of  bliss.  In  this  case  even  a  male  companion- 
ship would  have  been  cheerfully  hailed.     But  I  pushed 


YET  ALONE.  23 

and  worked  on.  Besides  flowers  and  birds  and  delightful 
shrubbery  and  small  streams  and  sparkling  cascades,  and 
some  fruits  and  berries,  of  which  I  tasted  very  charily,  I 
saw  nothing  but  seemingly  impenetrable  forest,  relieved 
occasionally  by  bright  fertile  expanses  in  great  lux- 
uriance, again  skirted  by  huge  forest  trees  and 
undergrowth.  I  had  all  the  time  carefully  observed 
my  bearings  and  did  not  consider  myself  lost.  At 
noon,  refreshed  by  a  little  cascade  from  a  rock-basined 
spring  where  the  ground  began  to  be  uneven  and  broken, 
I  rested  in  comfortable  enjoyment,  though  terribly 
impressed  by  the  solitude.  Never  did  a  person  sit  down 
to  a  repast,  more  imbued  with  the  alarm  and  feeling  of 
utter  loneliness !  So  far,  birds  and  insects,  besides  a 
respectable-looking  snake  or  two,  were  the  only  living 
objects  I  had  encountered,  and  these  regarded  me  with 
varying  degrees  of  indifference,  none  doing  or  attempting 
to  do  me  harm.  My  discoveries  still  left  me  alone,  and, 
what  was  worse,  with  no  clue  for  further  investigation, 
with  only  an  interminable  depth  and  mystery  around. 
I  concluded  to  prosecute  my  inquiries  and  researches  on 
the  morrow,  as  far  as  a  day's  endeavor  would  carry  me, 
along  the  coast.  Arriving  again  at  my  "residence"  on 
the  border  of  the  deep,  I  readily  saw  that  no  disturbance 
had  taken  place  there ;  and  another  dreary  night  set  in. 

The  next  day  proved  equally  fruitless,  and  so  the  next, 
and  the  next,  each  day's  explorations  extending  in  a  dif- 
ferent direction.  Save  a  little  difference  in  scenery,  and 
one  or  two  glimpses  of  some  larger  four-footed,  but,  to  all 
appearance,  yet  harmless  animals,  which  fled  startled  at 
my  approach,  I  was  substantially  without  progress;  cer- 
tainly in  the  one  cherished  desire  of  finding  some  human 
existence  besides  my  own  on  this  enchanting  spot,  whose 
very  loveliness,  however,  was  beginning  to  mock  my  dis- 


24  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

tress.  I  believe  I  could  have  embraced  with  joy  a  canni- 
bal, an  enemy,  the  most  hideous  and  endangering  wild 
man,  just  to  have  seen  a  human  being  again. 

After  deliberately  cogitating  and  sunk  in  reverie  awhile 
I  determined  to  take  an  extensive  tour,  lasting  perchance 
a  month,  to  satisfy  myself  as  to  the  presence  of  any 
inhabitants  of  the  place,  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  the 
same  were  an  island,  and  to  seek  for  some  means  of 
escape.  I  wished  to  learn,  if  my  life  were  spared  and 
escape  impossible,  under  what  circumstances  I  must  spend 
my  remaining  days  here. 

Following  the  shoreline  and  making  numerous  digres- 
sions inland,  I  spent  eight  weeks,  living  on  fruits  and 
berries  and  eatable  flesh  I  captured  and  cooked,  for  fish 
large  and  small  in  sea  and  in  stream,  large  and  small 
game  and  the  best  of  fresh  water  I  found  in  abundance 
and  easily  acquired,  and  all  of  a  quality  to  tempt  the 
desires  and  tickle  the  palate  of  the  epicure;  and  carrying 
enough  outfit  to  make  camping  practicable,  I  rested  at 
night  on  a  blanket  spread  on  the  ground  in  a  sheltered 
place,  lying  Indian  or  Mexican  fashion  face  downward. 
The  nights  were  constantly  pleasant,  as  always  in  this  cli- 
mate at  this  part  of  the  year ;  a  fire,  and  a  rope  encircling 
my  open  couch,  warded  off  animal  and  reptilian  encroach- 
ment on  my  private  "apartment,"  if  ever  I  was  threat- 
ened therewith ;  my  precautions  were,  nevertheless,  taken 
with  regular  system.  And  as  day  after  day  I  still  lived 
well  —  in  fact,  there  was  no  exhausting  the  supply  in 
sight  —  my  return  was  further  postponed,  in  the  vain  hope 
that  perhaps  one  day  more  would  bring  the  desired  joy. 
But,  no  —  doomed  to  disappointment  in  this,  I  retraced  my 
way,  going  directly  and  as  rapidly  as  I  could,  back  to  the 
ship  —  and  to  what  solace  I  could  find  in  the  reminders  of 
my  former  associations.     I  again  found  everything  undis- 


MY   MONOPOLY.  25 

turbed,  which  was  rather  a  melancholy  pleasure  than 
otherwise,  and  concluded  to  settle  down,  to  apply  my  ener- 
gies to  my  own  entertainment  (I  felt  no  alarm  on  account 
of  physical  necessities)  looking  forward  to  the  hour  of 
deliverance — possibly  only  that  of  death. 

Thus,  the  human  heart  quails  and  discouragement  read- 
ily wraps  the  human  being  in  gloom. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


MY    MONOPOLY  I 


The  next  ten  days  were  aimless  for  me;  I  ate,  slept, 
read,  yelled,  played  on  the  musical  instruments  —  there 
were  many  of  them,  including  an  outfit  for  a  brass  band — 
scampered  up  and  down  and  over  and  in  and  out,  exam- 
ined everything,  minutely,  until  the  inventory  of  the  ship's 
contents  was  at  my  tongue's  end,  so  to  speak.  Sometimes 
I  felt  a  little  hilarious,  which  was  however  more  than 
offset  by  the  settling  gloom  on  my  once  joyous 
temperament. 

At  the  end  of  that  time,  this  sort  of  inertia  became 
gruesome,  and  I  began  to  consider  what  I  might  do  to 
employ  my  mind.  Impelled  by  a  presage  of  present  useless- 
ness  I  lost  sanguineness  of  discovering  anyone  and  felt  con- 
vinced of  the  futility  of  an  effort;  not  that  faith  is  unnatural 
or  unproductive,  for  it  is  the  contrary.  If  indeed  the  land 
were  inhabited  at  all,  unless  by  some  lone  individual  or 
small  number  cast  thereon,  somewhat  like  myself,  this 
goodly  portion  would  not  remain  so  utterly  unexplored 
and  traeeless  of  human  acts  and  occupation.  My  mind 
was  in  a  terrible  conflict,  with  chasing  doubts  and  conject- 


26  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

ures  to  aggravate  the  evil ;  why  might  my  companions  not 
have  readied  the  shore  here  somewhere  ?  Would  they  not, 
then,  have  looked  for  the  wreckage  on  this  beach  ?  Ah ! 
doubts  and  wishes  and  desires  and  despair,  how  they 
wring  the  human  heart ! 

I  had  the  idea,  that  I  was  on  a  very  large  domain,  per- 
haps a  continent  itself. 

At  any  rate,  I  was  beginning  to  consider  a  pure  neces- 
sity— and  that  the  greatest  of  all  —  the  nourishment  of 
the  mind,  to  prevent  its  decline  into  actual  insanity.  I 
conceived  the  idea  of  making  (the  first  food  for  the  mind 
is  regulation  of  an  attachment)  a  little  plantation  and 
erecting  an  abode  on  land,  and,  besides  using  the  seeds  of 
which  there  was  abundance  in  quantity  and  variety  on 
board,  to  employ  the  indigenous  plants  and  growths  both 
for  embellishment  and  use,  and  to  find  cultivation  and 
companionship  in  these  experiments.  Nature  is  always 
ready  to  befriend  you,  and  throws  itself  in  your  way  to 
attract  your  attention  and  distract  your  sorrows.  Land 
was  cheap,  apparently  fertile,  and  the  vagaries  of  my  fancy 
would  be  so  limited  solely  by  my  skill  and  some  natural 
requirements.  I  had  been  here  now  upward  of  three 
months,  as  the  hour  and  date  annotator  on  board  betokened. 
This  I  most  studiously  kept  in  order  and  running,  during 
my  prolonged  absence  having  kept  daily  tally  in  a  note-book 
of  the  passing  days  and  not  allowed  my  watch  to  run  down. 
I  had  also  established  a  sun-dial,  by  which  to  test  the  reg- 
ularity of  my  time-pieces;  besides  astronomical  charts, 
works,  instruments  etc.,  amply  stowed  on  ship,  aided  me. 
In  the  meantime  however  I  noted  that  a  change  of  season 
was  setting  in,  admonishing  me  that  a  fall  and  winter  of 
some  description  were  to  ensue.  I  had  already  begun  to 
consider,  judging  from  the  kinds  of  nuts  and  fruits  and 
grapes,  and  vegetation  generally,  that  the  climatic  condi- 


MY  MONOPOLY.  27 

tions  were  very  similar  to  those  of  my  late  country.  The 
changed  tints  of  the  foliage,  the  cold  rain,  the  bursting 
pods,  and  the  fruits  reminded  me  forcibly  of  the  old  farm 
at  this  time  of  the  year.  I  began  therefore — a  kind  of 
instinct,  I  presume  —  to  gather  of  the  bounty  nature  had  so 
profusely  and  delectably  provided  yet  seemed  to  be  wast- 
ing, and  as  time  and  season  progressed  together,  soon  had 
stowed  enough  to  satisfy  a  hundred  persons;  still,  this 
useless  surplus  employment  was  the  only  diversion  I  could 
secure. 

Oh,  nature's  store,  so  much,  profusely,  yet,  all  scattered 

o'er 
Still  famish  thousands,  who  thy  bounty  ne'er  have  felt; 
There  is  some  fault,  before  which  railings  melt. 
The  crowdings,  crushing  to  some  space,  as  though  no  other 

fair ; 
The  garnering,  gathering  over  countless  space  by  selfish 

few; 
The  direful  waste;   unworthy  most,  who  never   seek   to 

know, 
That  Providence  has  sought  for  every  need  to  sow. 
And  many  fields,  as  green,  as  e'er  you've  seen, 
Await  your  choice,  when  you  will  reap,  not  glean ; 
And  will  spread  out  all  o'er  this  world's  fit  range ! 

The  provisions  on  ship,  in  salted  and  canned  articles, 
besides  coffee,  tea,  sugar,  spices,  and  so  on,  all  securely 
and  durably  packed,  alone  would  suffice  for  me  for  the 
next  five  years  or  more,  so  that  anxiety  on  the  score  of 
food  was  no  part  of  my  troubles. 

Soon  the  wind  began  to  blow  and  snow  to  fall,  after  an 
exquisitely  fine  Indian-summer.  Thanksgiving  day, 
which  I  kept  with  true  American  devotion,  found  me  of 
course  alone,  but  at  a  festive  board  crowned  by  a  magnif- 
icent young  wild  turkey,  with  cranberry  sauce  and  oyster- 


28  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

dressing,  a  la  cook-book,  attended  by  bouillon  and  fresb 
fish,  and  numerous  substantial  and  delicacies,  including  a 
veritable  pudding  and  a  mince-pie  —  in  fact,  such  a  spread 
as  was  not  excelled  by  any  of  former  years.  A  toast,  in  a 
glass  of  genuine  imported  champagne  (such  as  a  sea-cap- 
tain knows  how  to  have)  was  drunk,  silently,  standing; 
and,  if  I  could  return  fervent  thanks  for  my  strange  pres- 
ervation in  an  opportune  and  bountiful  manner,  still,  I 
felt  sad  at  my  loneliness,  and  at  the  fatality  which  had 
transplanted  me  hither,  ever  ready  to  forget  that  my  own 
rashness  in  desiring  foreign  sights  was  primarily  its  cause. 
Yet  I  enjoyed  the  feast.  (The  exercise  and  fresh  air  in 
round  after  round  of  explorations  of  the  possibilities  and 
contents  of  my  immediate  neighborhood,  had  brought  me 
health,  and  my  weight  and  appetite  were  constantly 
increasing.)  Under  the  circumstances  even  the  presence 
of  a  dog  would  have  been  a  solace  —  and  what  a  feast  the 
old  fellow  would  have  had  on  the  profuse  remnants;  or,  I 
do  not  know,  he  might  have  been  a  fellow-banqueter  with 
me !  I  spent  the  rest  of  the  day  prayerfully,  and  in  read- 
ing the  Bible. 

About  the  only  other  consolation  I  had  was  a  violin, 
and  hour  upon  hour,  at  times,  found  me  pouring  out  the 
anguish  of  my  soul  by  means  of  its  sympathetic  depths  of 
expression,  such  as  only  it,  next  to  the  voice,  can  give. 
What  a  strange  sound  and  melody  this  must  have  been  to 
this  primitive  region  ! 

Snow  covered  the  ground,  and  ice  began  to  form,  until 
at  Christinas  a  finer  winter  scene  and  condition  could 
hardly  be  conceived  in  a  temperate  zone.  My  Christmas 
was  both  devotional  and  lonely,  and,  constrained  to 
observe  old  customs  by  my  inclinations  even  in  this  soli- 
tude, additional  luxuries,  or  specially  prepared  dishes  for 
my   repast,   ceremoniously   arranged,    and    decorations    of 


MY  MONOPOLY.  29 

green  commemorated  the  occasion.  Will  you  smile,  when 
I  say  that  I  added  a  Christmas-tree  to  the  festivities  ? 

Game  proved  plentiful  and,  as  yet,  fat  and  savory; 
besides,  fish,  for  which  I  had  a  great  fondness,  were  so 
easily  caught,  seeming  indeed  to  rush  for  the  honor,  as 
to  present  no  sport.  All  in  all,  as  far  as  bodily  wants 
were  concerned,  connected  with  the  ample  supply  of  all 
kinds  of  apparel  on  board  what  mortal  could  intelligently 
and  consistently  desire  more?  Could  he  crave  the  turmoil 
and  struggle  of  this  life,  in  its  human  associations,  espe- 
cially, after  having  experienced  their  bitterness  and  anxie- 
ties? These  were  the  questions  I  frequently  asked  and 
attempted  to  rebuke  myself  for  my  seeming  ingratitude, 
when  never  in  my  life  had  I  been  so  free  from  outside 
cares.  I  recollected  that  dearth  of  many  things  which 
existed  among  the  general  inhabitants  of  civilization  and 
their  struggle  for  bare  existence;  and  I  was  spared  this,  or 
rather  freed  from  it,  and  a  million  other  sorrows. 

Only,  the  solitude  and  monotony  were  intense,  and 
therein  lay  a  further  use  of  philosophy.  I  read  and  read, 
and  found  hours  of  abstraction  and  pleasant  companion- 
ship thus. 

Spring  announced  its  approaches,  as  of  old,  and  burst 
forth  into  delicious,  bright  splendor,  soon  studding  the 
landscape  with  gorgeous  bloom.  I  began  to  bestir  myself 
for  amusement  and  to  while  away  the  tedious  time  to 
planting  and  sowing,  and  to  experiment  with  some  of 
the  seeds,  of  which  there  were  such  a  variety  and 
abundance  on  ship-board;  and  I  soon  had  the  excellent 
soil  in  a  state  of  fine  preparation,  the  incidental  labor  and 
sweating  but  proving  a  rest  to  my  mind;  and  corn,  pump- 
kins, potatoes,  beans,  radishes,  lettuce  and  other  vege- 
tables soon  were  properly  imbedded  to  impregnate  the 
virgin  earth. 


30  TIIE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

Need  I  continue  with  these  minutiae?  —  let  us  end  by 
saying,  that  when  I  gathered  the  yield  was  so  manifold, 
that  in  a  populated  land,  conducted  as  my  old  country 
was,  in  the  state  of  civilization  in  vogue,  the  profits,  rela- 
tively to  the  investment,  would  have  been  enormous,  and 
I  should  soon  have  become  a  very  wealthy  man;  but  here 
it  proved  solely  a  superabundance  —  gratifying  to  the 
husbandman,  but  deplorable  for  the  mere  waste.  I 
garnered  some  of  the  wild  tributes  of  kind  nature,  as  the 
year  before,  only  to  cast  the  bulk  of  them  to  the  fishes  in 
the  following  spring  and  house-cleaning,  which  served 
the  purpose  at  least  of  attracting  and  congregating  them 
to  the  watery  vicinity  of  my  abode  and  thus  making  them 
still  easier  prey. 

I  constructed  an  elegant  fantastical  little  abode,  where  I 
stayed  and  slept  a  part  of  the  time,  not  very  far  from  the 
shore,  backed  and  bordered  by  a  beautiful  grove  which  I 
had  cleared  around  about  the  dwelling  and  replaced  with 
a  well-trimmed  lawn,  and  near  it  a  fountain  of  cool,  clear, 
sparkling  water;  vines  and  climbing  roses  picturesquely 
overran  the  house,  adding  their  charm  of  beauty  and  odor; 
while  flower-beds,  and  ornamental  little  trees  and  shrub- 
bery, transplanted  from  different  spots,  and  mosses  and 
ferns,  besides  the  successful  products  of  seeds  I  found  in 
the  ship  all  contrived,  with  the  natural  grove  as  a  setting, 
a  very  charming  park.  I  had  also  with  the  seeds  I  pos- 
sessed, planted  an  orchard  to  which  I  had  added  and 
pruned,  grafted  and  cultivated  of  the  indigenous  kinds,  by 
way  of  further  variety  aud  experiment.  If  I  did  not 
possess  a  little  Eden,  that  is,  the  garden  thereof,  where 
else  could  one  be  found  ?  I  had  plenty  of  time  to  indulge 
every  fancy,  acquired  or  imagined,  in  the  way  of  decora- 
tive or  landscape  art,  or  for  useful  purposes,  and,  almost, 
no  end  of  means.     Botany  was  a  study  to  which  I  became 


ALONENESS.  31 

greatly  attached;  and  geology  and  animal  life  received 
considerable  attention.  I  had  a  respectable  laboratory, 
and  made  a  number  of  useful,  entertaining  chemical 
experiments. 

Five  years  —  slow,  drawn-out,  almost  weary — were 
spent  without  any  particular  or  marking  incidents,  than 
such  as  I  have  narrated.  As  time  with  gentle  drops  of 
water  wears  through  adamant,  so  the  heart  becomes  accus- 
tomed and  adapts  itself  to  repetition — the  mind  is  least 
troubled  when  the  heart  is  at  rest.  The  days  had  grown 
less  irksome,  since  I  had  in  a  measure  formed  acquaintance 
and  friendship  with  inanimate  things.  Five  years  —  and  I 
had  grown  that  much  older,  and  how  far,  how  far  removed 
from  the  time  and  accomplishments  of  the  world !  Accom- 
plishments ?  Does  the  world  accomplish  anything  by 
misery  and  unhappiness  and  starvation,  mental  and 
physical  ? 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


ALONENESS. 


I  had  now  arrived  at  a  period,  when,  as  few  could,  I 
was  enabled  from  experience  to  philosophize  on  the  query, 
"Is  it  well  for  man  to  be  alone?"  I  had  enjoyed,  or 
rather  been  thrust  into  Adam's  condition,  barring  special 
dispensations,  before  his  marriage;  and  that  under  not 
unfavorable  conditions.  I  had  well-stocked  provisions  of 
the  thoughts  and  contrivances  of  men  for  the  mental  and 
physical  wants ;  a  country  solely  lacking  other  inhabitants, 
human  habitations  and  handicrafts  to  complete  the  similar- 
ity to  the  one  left. 


32  THE    TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALOXE. 

Perhaps,  it  may  be  argued,  had  I  never  known  man,  his 
kind  or  contrivances, no  solitude  would  have  existed  for  me 
at  this  favored  spot ;  I  would  have  been  allied  to  the  feath- 
ered and  finny  and  hairy  tribes,  that  animated  the  locality. 
That,  however,  remains  within  the  realms  of  conjecture. 
The  question  still  remains,  Is  it  well  for  each  individual 
to  belong  exclusively  to  himself;  disregarding  any  idea  of 
propagation,  which  is  nothing,  unless  either  the  innate 
desire  of  company,  or  the  natural  propulsion  of  animal  life ; 
but  considering  exclusively  individual  convenience,  solace 
and  comfort  ?  My  experience  answered :  In  the  sublimest 
moments  of  self-abnegation;  at  the  most  abstract  supposi- 
tion of  total  oblivion  of  any  former  contact  with  human- 
ity, is  the  heart,  the  soul,  are  the  faculties  content  ?  No. 
An  inborn  instinct  feels  craving,  demands  intercourse  of 
like  with  like ;  even  condescends  to  inferiority,  to  gratify 
that  import.  And  this  union  and  re-union  are  susceptible 
of  all  refinements. 

Alone,  then,  though  possessed  of  ample  and  plenty,  enjoy- 
able to  any  degree  that  human  ingenuity  can  devise  out- 
side of  the  divine  spell:  and  yet  all  this  would  be  sacrificed 
and  abandoned  for  less  — if  that  less  be  accompanied  only 
by  the  desired  and  cherished  companionship.  The  love, 
lesser  demonstrations  of  the  principle  that  abandons  palace 
for  cottage;  friends  for  its  object;  even,  honor  for  its 
appeasing  food!  Xot  that  morbidness  may  not  abuse  even 
this  principle.  The  provisions  of  the  Creator  cannot 
hence  be  so  circumvented. 

As  I  lay  down,  like  to  Adam,  a  heavy  slumber  settled 
deeply  over  and  upon  me,  and  I  awoke  to  my  astonishment. 


HELLO/"  33 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"Hello!" 

I  heard,  or  thought  I  heard  (I  was  sleeping  that  night 
in  the  deck-cabin  of  the  ship,  it  being  now  again  summer), 
human  voices  —  and  I  started  up  in  affright.  The  sun- 
light was  streaming  brightly  in  indication  that  the  day  was 
already  well  advanced.  Now,  throughly  awake,  again  that 
voice-sound  broke  upon  my  ear,  accompanied,  this  time,  by 
a  dull  soft  smacking  sound,  a  little  shuffling,  as  of  bare  feet. 
Hastily  jumping  up  and  throwing  on  the  light  apparel 
which,  in  that  warm  weather,  I  wore,  I  sallied  forth.  But 
a  few  feet  distant  on  the  deck,  there  were  the  forms  of  two 
well-proportioned  men,  with  their  backs  toward  me,  they 
being  seemingly  intent  upon  the  observation  of  some 
object.  They  were  clad  in  well-fitting  dark  seemingly 
home-spun  clothing,  with  broad-brimmed  hats,  and  were 
bare-footed. 

Imagine  the  quiver  of  surprise  that  shook  my  whole 
frame !  I  was  speechless  with  astonishment,  and  my  first 
impulse,  that  instinct  of  well-grounded  suspicion  I  had 
retained  from  my  civilized  life,  was  to  rush  back  for  a 
weapon  —  thus  even  in  the  midst  of  hopeless  existence, 
the  instinct  for  the  preservation  of  life  is  self -accordant  — 
then,  recollecting  myself,  I  calculated  instantly  that  my 
chances  of  effectual  resistance  must  be  eventually  blocked 
by  the  number  of  their  probable  associates,  and  I  had  noth- 
ing in  jeopardy,  anyway.  Then  the  next  instant,  were 
they  desperadoes  or  no,  I  would  claim  their  companionship 
or  find  through  them  some  succor  or  relief — almost  any- 
thing would  be  the  latter. 


M  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

All  these  varying  and  conflicting  reflections  passed 
through  my  mind  in  the  flash  of  a  moment. 

So,  not  without  an  exultant  throb  of  joy  that  I  might 
again  use  my  voice  to  address  a  human  being,  I  spoke  as 
calmly  as  I  could :  "  Good  morning,  gentlemen ! "  and  felt 
as  though  a  great  load  was  lifted  off  me,  all  at  once,  by 
the  breaking  of  the  long  constrained  silence  ! 

A  sudden  almost  ludicrous  start  passed  visibly  through 
the  men,  who  immediately  turned  toward  me  their  full- 
bearded  ruddy  weather-beaten  countenances  (I  had  during 
all  this  time  regularly  kept  my  face  shaven)  upon  which 
were  depicted  courage  and  the  hardihood  of  splendid  physical 
condition,  while  an  open  character  and  kindly  expression 
were  apparent  in  their  yet  keen,  blue  eyes.  They  seemed 
to  have  their  feelings  under  better  control  than  I,  perhaps 
because  more  accustomed  to  unusual  occurrences  or  sur- 
prises, or  perhaps  each  feeling  fortified  by  the  other,  two 
to  one.  Yet,  they  could  not  know  what  hidden  dangers 
lurked  behind  me,  nor  that  I  was  alone,  and  their  entire 
demeanor  evinced  caution,  though  not  separated  from  an 
apparent  curiosity,  and  an  emotion  which  I  did  not  then 
understand,  hardly  expecting,  certainly  not  thinking  of 
such  a  thing  as  what  I  afterward  realized.  Had  I  then 
known,  that  —  although  matured  men,  one  even  past  mid- 
dle life  —  they  had  never  before  seen  or  heard  a  stranger, 
I  should  have  spoken  and  acted  differently,  and  presumed 
more  for  myself;  but  in  no  event  would  my  joy  have  been 
less. 

Recovering  from  the  momentary  surprise,  the  elder  of 
the  two  responded,  in  a  deep,  melodious  voice,  "Good 
morrow,  my  friend."  The  sound  of  a  human  voice  again 
addressed  to  me !  Floods  upon  floods  of  recollections  and 
keen  sensations  passed  in  that  second  over  me,  and  tremb- 
ling I  would  have  sunk  to  the  floor  but  for  the  support  of 


"HELLO!"  35 

the  door-post.  The  suddenness  of  this  surprise  out  of  the 
depths  of  hopelessness !  "  Friends  or  foes,"  I  almost 
whispered.  Perceiving  my  agitation  they  both  advanced, 
and  the  first  speaker  in  the  most  kindly  voice  and  manner 
imaginable,  holding  out  both  his  hard,  labor-encrusted 
hands  to  me,  spoke  again,  "Friends,  if  you  will.  We 
extend  a  cordial  greeting,  though,  encroaching  upon  your 
domain  and  hospitality,  we  should  await  the  greeting  from 
you."  It  was  the  grace  of  natural  culture  by  which  these 
words  were  uttered.  "Ah!  gentlemen,"  I  replied,  "pardon 
me  ;  your  manner  and  speech  assure  me,  and  I  will  recol- 
lect myself;  I  have  been  so  long  alone"  (they  started 
with  astonishment)  "dwelling  only  in  memory  with  my 
fellow-man,  that  it  surprises  me  that  I  recollect  or  can  utter 
speech  at  all.  I  was  more  overcome  by  delight  than  fear; 
by  astonishment  than  trepidation;  but,  now,  1  bid  you 
welcome,  most  heartily  welcome,  and,  if  I  shed  tears,  for- 
give my  weakness.  Come,  come  with  me  ! "  I  had 
evidently  become  more  than  ever  a  mystery  to  them ;  but, 
leading  the  way  to  the  shaded  side  of  the  vessel,  I  rushed 
into  the  cabin  and  soon  had  lugged  out  two  more  deck 
chairs,  which  I  placed  near  an  accustomed  seat  of  mine, 
with  an  invitation  to  them,  that  they  seat  themselves 
thereon.  My  request  was  complied  with,  and  our  mutual 
feelings  at  this  time,  when  our  respective  histories,  each 
remarkable,  were  unknown  to  one  another,  can  be  conject- 
ured in  the  light  of  subsequent  disclosures. 


36  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 


CHAPTER  X. 


REVIVED    SOCIABILITY. 


Constance  decks  a  life  devoid  of  bliss. 

Thus  blissful  throbs  run  through  the  fevered  veins, 

When  tickling  humors  broil  their  happy  frames, 

In  joyous  missives  rendered  part  to  part. 

As  in  pulsations  wild  the  heart  evolves 

And  the  whole  mind  suffuses  with  its  surge 

Clear  vision  be  restored;   though  dazzling  joy 

Makes  hard  its  brilliant  depths  thus  oft  to  scan ; 

For  all  the  purer  elements  of  guileless  bliss 

Are  found  in  realms  of  inner  virtuousness. 

"How  romantic  it  would  have  been  if  these  had  been 
robbers,  with  wild  adventures  to  our  hero,  and  succor  in 
the  nick  of  time  by  an  angelic  and  voluptuous  maiden, 
with  long  flowing  golden  hair ! "  But  this  was  not  the 
case,  at  least  at  this  time;  we  must  take  life  as  it  comes. 

A  little  interquestioning,  with  considerable  excited 
speech  and  frequent  ejaculation,  in  which  the  other  and 
younger  of  the  two  joined  with  equal  animation,  soon  dis- 
closed enough  of  our  respective  histories  to  acquaint  one 
another  with  our  relative  fortunes  or  misfortunes.  My 
delightful  and  delighted  visitors  were  men  of  physical 
hardihood  and  great  mental  intelligence :  they  would  have 
proven  themselves  entertaining  anywhere,  and  notable  in 
any  grade  or  condition  of  society. 

Without  relating  their  circumstances  and  arrival 
thereto  until  later,  I  will  say  that  their  residence 
in    these     parts     dated     from     their     births,    although 


REVIVED  SOCIABILITY.  37 

this  identical  tract  had  never  been  before  explored 
by  them  (and  thus  still  remained  my  domain  "by 
right  of  discovery,"  which  they  never  disputed).  On  this 
occasion,  these  two  bold  and  hearty  adventurers  had 
embarked  upon  a  tour  of  exploration  and  investigation, 
on  their  own  accounts  —  even  among  a  few  of  mortality 
in  existence  the  spirit  of  ever-restless  research  and 
ambition  coming  to  the  fore  with  its  strifes  and 
perilous  endeavors.  Employing  a  kind  of  small  boat 
of  their  own  rude,  yet  clever  and  serviceable  construction, 
equipped  with  sailing  means  and  a  shelter-coop,  with- 
out compass  or  guide  for  direction  or  return  save  as  the 
shore  would  give  them  such  indications,  they  had  coasted 
for  many  days,  making  devious  incursions  in-land  and  sub- 
sisting mainly  on  the  result  of  the  chase  by  trapping  and 
the  net  and  line.  They  had  discovered  traces  of  some  of 
the  fires  I  had  built,  and  thence  concluded  the  existence  of 
humanity  somewhere  about.  The  evening  before  they  had 
run  into  a  little  sheltered  cove,  as  was  their  nightly  custom, 
and  in  making  one  of  their  periodical  incursions  on  this 
morning  had  encountered  my  land  habitation  and  gardens, 
whence  the  tracks  or  path  to  the  ship  were  easily  trace- 
able ;  and  to  such  hardy  undertakers  such  a  clue  to  some- 
thing would  not  be  fled  from.  It  can  be  imagined  that 
they  were  wonderfully  and  agreeably  surprised,  when 
they  beheld  my  ship,  never  having  seen  anything  like 
this  before,  yet  possessing  man's  instinctive  appreciation 
of  skill  and  beauty.  These  people  in  addition,  as  the 
sequel  will  show,  possessed  a  high  order  of  intelligence. 

Well,  to  make  an  otherwise  long  chapter  short,  I  dined 
and  wined  them — the  latter  indulgence  being  entirely 
new,  yet  not  unpleasant  to  them  —  and  the  toasts  and  merri- 
ment were  thick  and  fast.  The  festive  board  groaned 
under  everything  the  season,  including  my  seasoning  and 


38  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

seizing,  could  afford,  even  to  a  fine  Havana  cigar  apiece. 
Unfortunately  my  visitors'  inquiries  in  regard  to  the  latter 
and  my  instructions  in  the  use  of  this  so-called  delectation, 
and,  thereupon,  their  insistence,  resulted  in  making  us  all 
sick,  including  myself,  because  unaddicted  to  the  use  of 
and  not  in  love  with  tobacco. 

We  talked,  laughed  and  shouted  far  into  that  night; 
and  I  even  got  out  the  old  fiddle  and  played  with  fantasti. 
cal  variations,  making  the  instrument  fairly  speak  with 
joy  and  pathos,  "Backward,  oh,  backward,"  "In  the 
gloaming,"  "Her  bright  smile,"  "By  the  sad  sea  waves," 
"Fishers'  hornpipe,"  "Home,  sweet  home,"  and  a  number 
of  others  —  which  they  considered  wonderful,  reminding 
them,  they  said,  of  the  portrayed  possibilities  of  the  upper, 
blissful  realms,  of  which  they  had  read.  As  a  guest 
chamber,  they  occupied  the  best  cabin  on  ship,  with  the 
costliest  sheetings,  coverings  and  hangings  within  grasp  — 
unknown  and  unnecessary  luxuries  to  my  new  friends,  and 
like  to  the  fairy-tales  and  stories  of  wonderland,  of  which 
they  had  read.  They  rather  hesitated  to  touch  these  fine 
things,  in  their  admiration  for  them. 

The  happiest  night  of  five  years  robbed  me  of  slumber! 
It  had  been  agreed  that  I  should  return  with  them  to  their 
habitation,  and  their  outward  voyage  terminated  at  once 
with  this  "one  grand  discovery."  I  appreciated  their 
enthusiasm  in  my  behalf,  which  was  quite  natural  under 
the  circumstances,  but  assured  them  that  their  revelation 
was  not  less  grateful  and  wonderful  to  me — its  timeliness 
I  alone  could  realize.  So  the  morrow  was  busied  with 
preparations  for  my  departure.  Having  anchored  their 
little  craft  in  close  proximity  to  the  ship,  we  proceeded  to 
load  it  to  its  utmost  capacity,  with  the  best  at  my  command; 
eatables,  wearables  and  drinkables;  books  and  smaller 
musical  instruments;   contrivances  for  amusement;   some 


REVIVED  SOCIABILITY.  39 

scientific  and  mechanical  devices,  such  as  we  could  con- 
veniently and  safely  stow,  besides  seeds,  plants,  drugs, 
chemicals  and  condiments,  making  altogether  a  very 
respectable  peace-offering,  still  leaving  a  large  and  valu- 
able store  behind.  The  astonishment  and  unflagging  inter- 
est of  the  men,  as  they  beheld  article  after  article,  was 
intense. 

After  as  securely  as  possible,  fastening  and  locking  all 
the  avenues  that  opened  into  the  interior  of  the  vessel,  I 
cast  a  parting  look  on  my  beautiful  little  gardens,  which  I 
was  about  to  desert  ruthlessly  for  the  companionship  of 
people,  who  might  not  possess  any  such  ease  and  prosper- 
ity; which  latter,  however,  I  reckoned  as  comparatively 
nothing.  Many  now  yearn  for  these  and  their  joys  who 
have  not  felt  the  burden  of  solitude,  but  realize  only  the 
cares  of  ordinary  existence  and  the  lack  of  complete,  or 
even  approximate  happiness  there.  Indeed  my  several 
haunts  had  become  dear  to  me  despite  myself  and  I  felt 
regret  at  leaving  them;  and  at  the  dear  old  ship  I  looked 
long  and  devotedly,  and  prayed  that  I  might  behold  it 
again,  intact. 

Still  the  alternative  of  remaining  without  the  compan- 
ionship which  I  had  just  found,  quickly  dispelled  all  such 
reflections  —  and  soon  briskly  sailing  on  our  course,  my 
animation  reached  its  former  height. 

Life  soon  forgets  the  dearlings  of  the  Past, 
When  pleasures  new  exhilarate  its  chase. 
On,  catching  at  such  gleams,  that  bid  a  choice 
Or  chance,  that  radiant  hues  lie  still  beyond ; 
And  still  at  ease  descries  each  novel  fund 
As  so  much  new  or  better,  finer  bliss. 
But  when  sad  aches  can  have  no  happy  chose 
In  contemplation  of  the  wrecks  of  hopes 
Wherein  bright  prospects  often  were  misspent, 


40  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Then  turns  the  mind  to  conjure  up  the  cause, 
That  gave  such  ornament  to  bygone  days, 
And  lingers  dearly  o'er  the  happiness  sped. 
And  were't  not  so  would  this  life  be  esteemed 
A  truce,  a  truce  wherein  to  thrall  the  cret'sins  ? 


CHAPTEE  XL 


NEW    FACES. 


To  divide  one's  attention  is  like  hitching  horses,  one  to 
each  end  of  a  vehicle  —  and  then  starting  the  opposing 
forces;  there  is  apt  to  be  little  progress  either  way,  and 
certainly  much  loss  of  time. 

Gaily  I  viewed  the  pinnacles  of  the  structures  erected  by 
this  little  isolated  colony,  to  whose  abodes  I  was  being  con- 
ducted, as  they  first  appeared  in  sight  in  the  distance  and 
were  pointed  out  to  me. 

I  had  learned  in  the  meantime  that  fifty  persons  consti- 
tuted this  little  band,  shut  out  and  cut  off  from  the  out- 
side world  ;  none  of  them  had  seen  another  face  than  was 
embraced  in  their  own  little  company,  until  these  men  saw 
me.  They  only  knew  of  an  outside  world  and  other  exist- 
ence of  humanity  from  old  literature  in  their  possession  and, 
strange  as  it  may  sound,  by  tradition.  Accustomed  only 
to  hear  of  the  authority  of  tradition  in  connection  with 
savage  or  uncivilized,  illiterate  people,  it  is  far  from  our 
reflections  that  such  a  condition  might  affect  our  descend- 
ants or  the  living  ones  of  civilized  people;  but  such  of 
course  may  become,  and  was  here  as  to  the  latter  propo- 
sition, the  fact.  Behold  powerful  Babylon,  glorious  Jeru- 
salem, Tyre,  Athens,  Rome  —  their  present  inhabitants, 
many   of  them,   perhaps  are  lineal  descendants  of  their 


NEW  FACES.  41 

.  once  great  minds  and  masters ;  now  among  their  ruins  lin- 
gers a  largely  traditionary  or  legendary  memory  of  them 
and  their  times.  So  we  may  sink  into  traditionary  or 
legendary  remembrance,  perhaps  our  descendants  decline 
into  barbarism  upon  the  greatness  of  our  ruins. 

The  people  of  this  little  colony  could  all,  excepting  the 
mere  children,  read  and  write  in  their  tongue,  the  Eng- 
lish language ;  a  regular  course  of  instruction,  inaugurated 
by  those  whose  mishap  had  first  cast  them  on  these  shores, 
was  studiously  observed,  though  the  printed  literature  was 
restricted  to  that  primarily  on  hand,  and  bore  evidence  of 
long  age  and  wear,  although  almost  sacredly  guarded. 
Their  individual  writings  and  records  related  in  a  steady 
sequence  their  history  and  discoveries.  The  foundation 
and  system  of  perpetuation  for  an  increasingly  enlight- 
ened people,  were  well  laid  by  their  first  ancestors  here, 
who,  coming  from  the  civilized  world,  foresaw  the  danger 
of  a  benighted  existence  to  their  beloved  progeny,  and 
assiduously  sought  to  arm  them  against  such  a  calamity, 
until  a  merciful  God  or  saviour  should  succor  this  help- 
less flock.  Their  standards  of  educational  work,  judged 
even  from  our  standpoint,  were  high,  and  exhibited  the 
closest  attention  on  their  part  to  the  opportunities  at  hand  — 
although  ravages  of  time,  from  the  long  extent  of  their 
traditional  civilization,  and  peculiarities  that  would  nat- 
urally ensue  from  local  causes  and  the  absence  of  the  more 
extended  human  associations,  were  apparent. 

Why  do  we  not  understand  more  —  why  are  what  we 
call  the  great  discoveries  of  any  age  so  often  the  result  of 
accident  —  why  may  we  not  calmly  and  rationally  know 
these  things  of  our  knowledge,  and  prove  their  sequence,  link 
upon  link  ?  It  is  because  the  medium  of  exchange  be- 
tween us  is  unsatisfactory.  But  here  were  resources  equal 
to  those  of  any  country  on  earth ;  intelligent,  honest  peo- 


42  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

pie;  and  yet  what  discovery  elsewhere  had  already  demon- 
strated as  the  simplest  principles,  were  here  unrealized; 
the  urgent  necessities,  the  numbers  and  diversity,  had  not 
brought  mind  and  spirit  to  work,  had  not  inspired  them  to 
words  and  deeds.  I  was  thus  by  these  accounts  of  them, 
tolerably  well  acquainted  with  the  rest  of  my  future 
coadjutors  before  I  beheld  them  in  the  flesh. 

As  we  approached,  we  noticed  a  small  boat  hastily  put 
out,  and  a  boy  hurriedly  jumping  into  the  same  and  tug- 
ging rapidly  at  a  pair  of  oars,  soon  came  alongside.  The 
strapping,  handsome  little  fellow  joyfully  greeted  one  of 
the  men  as  father.  Taken  into  our  boat  with  his  fastened  to 
ours  astern,  almost  beside  himself  with  joy,  he  announced 
as  well  as  his  gasps  and  excitement  would  let  him, 
that  all  had  been  and  were  well,  and  everything  was  in  a 
satisfactory  condition.  Upon  being  presented  to  me,  hav- 
ing, theretofore,  scarcely  been  conscious  of  my  presence,  he 
was  not  a  little  abashed  and  awkwardly,  almost  fearfully, 
met  my  kindly  and  cordial  greetings  —  with  as  much 
astonishment  and  wonder  depicted  on  his  bright  glowing 
guileless  countenance  towards  me,  as  though  a  supernatu- 
ral being  were  brought  to  vision  to  one  of  you. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


AN    ASTONISHED    GROUP. 


The  news  of  our  little  craft's  approach  had  been  indus- 
triously and  enthusiastically  heralded  to  every  part  of  the 
abodes  and  places  of  occupation  of  the  little  colony,  and  as 
the  sun  was  going  down  in  gorgeous  evening  glow,  the 
whole  populace  congregated  on  the  shore  to  welcome  their 


AN  ASTONISHED  GROUP.  43 

beloved  adventurers.  Running  close  to  a  rocky  projection 
and  casting  out  the  moorlines,  which  were  quickly  and 
skillfully  seized  by  willing  hands  and  fastened,  the  two 
men  sprang  ashore  and  were  at  once  engaged  in  embrac- 
ing, kissing  and  shaking  the  hands  of  the  dear  friends, 
from  whom  they  had  been  several  months  separated. 
This  voyage  was  the  longest  that  had  ever  occurred  among 
them  and  was  celebrated  as  an  event,  and  regarded  Avith 
marked  attention  on  that  account. 

I  remained  seated ;  the  boy  had  become  interested  and 
engaged  in  the  cautious  inspection  of  some  of  the  strange 
articles  we  had  brought  along  as  my  contribution.  Pres- 
ently the  elder  of  the  two  men  of  my  acquaintance  raised 
his  hands  in  supplication  of  silence,  and  beginning  slowly 
and  calmly,  said,  "  My  dearly  beloved,  we  have  with  us  a 
sojourner  in  this  land  of  magnificent  distances  and  silent 
contemplation,  a  true  man,  who,  had  we  solicited  a  visita- 
tion from  heaven,  could  not  have  come  more  unexpectedly 
to  us,  or,  almost,  more  welcome.  It  is  an  answer  to 
our  true  prayers.  He  is  of  our  kind,  and  of  our  species 
and  race;  but,  unlike  us,  has  come  directly  from  that 
world  beyond,  of  which  even  our  best  imagination,  aided 
by  such  information  as  we  still  entertain  thereof,  cannot 
portray  the  wonders,  concerning  which  he  has  given  us, 
Victor  and  me,  occasional  glimpses  in  his  information  and 
explanations.  He  too  has  been  ostracised  here  for  some 
time,  but  not,  comparatively,  long ; "  (I  winced  a  little  at 
that)  "thither  we  have  had  dreams,  and  have  longingly 
talked  of  what  lies  beyond  those  great  natural  walls  of 
the  horizon,  this  o'erreaching,  intervening  watery  waste 
—  and,  as  I  said  before,  next  to  a  visitor  directly  from 
heaven,  this  worldly  emissary  exceeds  the  fulfillment  of 
all  our  other  desires  —  being  heaven-sent !  " 

I  had  stepped  forward  during  this  little   homily,  and, 


44  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

advancing  smilingly  and  in  a  state  of  suppressed  excite- 
ment, was  met  by  the  other  individuals  with  varying 
degrees  of  diffidence ;  all  seemingly  were  too  much  aston- 
ished, mystihed,  perhaps  even  awed,  as  though  a  supernatu- 
ral visitation  had  in  fact  come  to  them,  to  utter  more  than 
a  few  words,  as  they  timidly  extended  their  hands,  which 
I,  each  in  turn,  grasped  firmly  and  heartily  shook. 

Yet  what  a  happy  awakening  from  the  stupor  of  the 
last  five  years ! 

Under  the  circumstances  I  rallied  to  myself  the  sooner, 
and  resumed  my  natural  equilibrium,  feeling  that  I  was 
more  accustomed  to  meet  people,  and  especially  could 
feel  more  at  home  with  strangers  than  they  (of  course, 
because  they  had  never  met  a  stranger  before;  just  think 
of  it !)  and  was  consequently,  save  my  two  friends,  the 
most  at  ease  of  any.  "Friends  and  fellow-beings,"  I  said: 
"a  fated  series  of  occurrences  has  thrown  us  together  — 
from  so  far  off,  from  such  different  origins.  Some  were 
sent  of  your  number  to  me,  when  the  years  of  solitude  had 
settled  an  almost  impenetrable  gloom  of  despondency  upon 
my  spirit,  under  which  even  my  stout  heart  was  beginning 
to  quail  —  but  the  faith  in  a  Divine  Providence  can  never 
err.  At  length  I  am  made  the  messenger  in  answer  to 
your  prayers,  and  am  succored  in  answer  to  mine ;  and  so  it 
seems  now  clear  to  me,  all  the  better  for  the  trials  and 
tribulations  into  which  I  had  wandered  and  was  made  to 
pass,  that  I  was  intended  to  convey  to  you  tidings  from 
the  known  world  about  and  to  bring  you  the  solace  of 
information  without.  Our  meeting  is  as  auspicious  as  the 
beautiful  evening-glow,  suffusing  the  heavens  with  its 
glorious  red  and  warmth  of  promise  and  auguring  peace  and 
radiance  on  the  morrow.  Receive  me,  then,  brethren," 
I  continued  almost  passionately,  "into  your  congregation, 
to   which    I   will   bring,  diligently   and    conscientiously, 


AN  ASTONISHED  GROUP.  45 

whatever  there  is  worthy  in  me ! "  By  the  motive,  enfran- 
chising power  of  eloquence,  "We  receive  you!"  "We 
welcome  you!"  "God  bless  you!"  they  broke  in,  in 
diverse  and  fervent  exclamations ;  seeming,  all  at  once,  to 
have  regained  their  powers  of  speech.  They  crowded 
around  me,  with  the  whole  fervency  of  their  artless 
natures  aglow,  so  that  there  could  be  no  more  cordial  wel- 
come than  was  now  accorded  to  me. 

Someone  spoke  of  possible  hunger  on  our  parts,  of 
which  we  had  truly  not  thought  ourselves,  but  now  were 
forced  to  acknowledge ;  and  led  to  seats  around  a  table  in 
a  cosy  sheltering  arbor  we  were  soon  bountifully  and  excel- 
lently regaled.  Having  since  very  early  that  morning 
labored  incessantly  to  finish  the  voyage  by  evening, 
fatigue  which  even  the  prevalent  excitement  could  not 
entirely  subside,  soon  after  readily  led  us  to  acquiesce  in 
the  suggestion  of  retirement.  And  such  clean,  plain,  yet 
luxurious  couches  never  received  more  grateful  or,  for  the 
moment,  happier  frames,  than  sunk  and  rested  upon  these 
in  blissful  relief  that  night. 

Thus,  after  five  years,  I  was  to  spend  a  night  in  repose 
with  human  slumberers  around  within  easy  call  of  me. 

Fitful  shadows  sweep  at  night, 
As  alternating  shade  and  light 
Disturb  the  peace ; 

The  soul  is  not  in  soothing  rest, 
In  consonance  with  its  behest, 
That  all  be  right, 

When  strict  consistence  and  accord, 
In  weighing  every  deed  and  word, 
Find  much  is  lost. 

For,  useless  thoughts  are  mental  dross, 
Which  bears  its  weight  with  heavy  loss ; 
For,  being  bought, 


46  THE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

Is  paid  for  at  the  price  and  pounds, 
In  which  the  dearest  sum  resounds ; 
And  good's  foregone. 

Oh,  gentle  spirit,  lead  me  not 

With  thoughts  of  hell,  nor,  cruelly  wrought, 

Disturb  my  rest; 

That  not  the  night  be  full  of  dread, 
Or  in  wild  anguish  me  o'erspread, 
Who  need  its  peace. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE    TRIALS    OF    OTHERS. 

More  than  half  a  century  ago  on  a  morning  as  bright 
serene  and  balmy,  as  nature  is  capable  of,  one  of  the  finest 
passenger  and  freight  vessels  of  that  day,  well  laden  and 
peopled,  left  an  English  seaport,  as  jauntily  as  the  gayest 
of  the  many  gay  spirits  on  board  could  wish,  and  essayed 
the  treacherous  waves. 

Out  of  sight  of  land,  that  horrible  invader  of  the  human 
gastronomy,  sea-sickness,  began  to  manifest  itself  in 
divers  quarters  and  in  fact,  made  a  sweeping  onslaught  on 
the  large  number  of  novices  present;  and,  at  this  period, 
the  tender  solicitude,  respectively,  of  three  couples, 
attracted  their  reciprocal  notice  one  to  the  other, 
drawing  them  together,  as  by  some  simple  union  of 
one  accord  —  a  separate  little  group  of  fellow-sufferers 
and,  afterward,  fellow-jubilators.  So  began  an  acquaint- 
ance and  attachment  between  these  people,  of  whose  fated 
endurance  and  intimacy  none  then  entertained  the  remot- 
est presage.  They  all  belonged  to  the  English  middle 
class;  were  of  the  highest  respectability,  wealthy,  refined 


THE  TRIALS  OF  OTHERS.  47 

and  educated;  and  the  several  honeymoon  couples,  hail- 
ing from  different  sections  of  England  were  thus  thrown 
together  by  chance  —  never,  thereafter,  to  separate  until 
death  should  dissolve  the  visible  earthly  bonds.  And  as, 
long  after,  one  after  the  other  of  the  white,  sage  heads 
was  laid  in  the  strange  far-away  soil  of  their  last  abode  on 
earth,  far  from  the  relatives  and  friends  who  had  long 
since  been  compelled  to  mourn  them  dead,  those  remaining 
shed  tears  of  regret  and  loving  remembrance  over  the 
unostentatious  bier.  And  at  length  the  sole  survivor,  the 
last  connecting  link  with  the  outside  world,  with  words  of 
injunction  befitting  this  finality  entered  into  his  rest, 
mourned  and  attended  by  those  to  whom  civilization  was 
only  a  narrative,  the  children  and  descendants  of  these 
three  couples,  who  had  been  snatched  from  the  dawn  of 
humanity  that  their  posterity  might  fashion  out  a  new 
path,  and  perhaps  wield  an  influence  on  the  whole  earth, 
from  the  morning  of  bright  hopes  had  sunk  to — the  night 
of  despondency,  gloom,  despair?  Nay,  the  elements  of 
cheer  and  comfort  were  about  them  in  the  existence  of 
their  beloved  children  —  hence  I  will  only  add  to  the 
night  of  natural  regret  for  the  latter.  But  a  brighter 
dawn  revealed  itself  to  these  on  their  own  accounts.  As 
though  the  tombs  of  venerated  Patriarchs,  these  silent 
graves  by  that  ocean  whence  their  fates  had  blown  them 
possessed  sanctity  and  fascination. 

But,  to  continue  the  original  story,  our  voyagers  were 
soon  overtaken  by  misfortune.  Day  followed  day  of 
violently  stormy  weather,  so  that  all  had  to  remain  below, 
the  hatchways  were  closed,  and  gloom  reigned  within  and 
without.  Nor  were  there  in  those  days  the  happy  provi- 
sions of  our  present  day  steamers.  The  highest  pitch  of 
apprehension  and  nervous  tension  was  felt  for  such  a 
length  of  time,  that,  when  the  fatal  climax  arrived,  it  was 


48  TUE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

paradoxically  almost  a  relief;  and,  terrible  though  its  few 
moments  were,  swiftly  it  dissolved  the  bonds  of  thraldom! 

All  deeming  the  vessel  lost,  even  the  veteran  calm 
experienced  captain  at  last  conceding  this,  the  order  for 
preparing  the  boats  was  instantly  obeyed  and  these  were 
peopled  with  such  precipitation  and  confusion,  to  which 
the  terribly  heaving  sea  added  consternation,  that  any 
attempt  at  order  was  utterly  futile.  Our  little  group,  as 
usual,  was  together  and  a  little  aloof  now  under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  oldest  of  them  —  a  young  man  of  wonderful 
coolness  and  calculating  strength  of  mind  —  who  from 
that  time  seems  tacitly  and  implicitly  to  have  had  their 
obedience  in  everything.  He  restrained  them  from  enter- 
ing into  the  rush,  believing  and  counseling  that  such  con- 
duct would  involve  all  engaged  in  disaster.  And  so  it 
proved;  for  the  launching  of  the  boats,  in  the  dreadfully 
violent  seas,  ended  immediately  under  the  very  eyes  of 
these  six  remaining  on  board,  in  the  saddest  of  catastrophes. 
The  captain,  after  in  vain  urging  this  united  group  to  join 
them,  had  himself  left  the  ship ;  and  the  day  grew  darker, 
until  the  wildest  of  nights  obscured  all  vision  and  wailed 
a  dirge  over  the  unescaped  separate  but  not  separable  new 
watery  graves. 

Now,  without  any  apparent  means  of  escape,  the  six 
had  prepared  themselves  to  die ;  young  wife  clasped  to  hus- 
band's bosom,  their  mutual  faithfulness  never  more  to  be 
tried,  there  remained  to  each  but  the  consolation  that  he  or 
she  was  not  to  be  left  behind  the  other,  but  that  they  could 
die,  as  they  had  loved  to  live,  together — so  thought  they, 
bestowing  upon  each  other  the  last  glances  of  undying 
affection,  when  lo!  a  resounding  crash,  that  seemed  to 
shake  every  portion  of  the  vessel.  Then,  a  comparative 
settling  of  the  ship  and  cessation  of  its  motions,  whilst  the 
waves  dashed  against  and  over  it,  and  the  wind  blew  with 


THE  TRIALS  OF  OTHERS.  49 

awful  vehemence  —  followed  by  oblivion,  for,  thrown  and 
scattered  violently  about,  all  sank  into  unconsciousness, 
either  fainting  from  the  new  fright  and  overwrought 
feelings,  or  stunned  by  the  fall. 

Oh,  might  oblivion  ever  rush  to  aid 
The  moments  that  so  sorely  try  men's  souls  — 
Or  might  this  sweet  forgetfulness  dissolve 
In  vapors  to  but  seem  the  tomb's  incense ! 

They  must  have  lain  in  this  stupor  for  some  time.  Their 
leader  was  the  first  to  revive,  dazed  and  confused,  in  utter 
darkness.  The  vessel,  though  evidently  grinding  on  and 
rubbing  against  some  hard  substance,  was  not  moving 
much,  from  which  he  correctly  inferred  that  it  had 
grounded. 

He  recollected  having  seen  a  lantern  in  a  corner  of  the 
cabin,  to  which  they  had  retired  after  the  sad  catastrophe 
related,  and,  making  way  thereto  over  the  prostrate  forms, 
was  fortunate  enough  to  find  it,  with  the  further  happy 
event,  that  the  same  contained  a  candle  inserted  in  its 
holder,  and,  therefore,  was  ready  for  use.  God  help  the 
poor  man's  apprehensions  at  this  time;  he  knew  not 
how  many  of  these  dear  companions,  and  his  beloved 
wife,  might  also  be  beyond  human  aid !  The  light 
seemed  to  work  as  a  restorative,  for  the  other  two  men 
opened  their  eyes,  and  the  wife  of  the  first  began  to  move. 
By  rubbing  and  charing,  the  remaining  two  ladies  were 
restored  to  consciousness ;  and  the  rejoicing  of  all  was 
great.  Our  leader  informed  them  of  his  belief  as  to  the 
ship's  situation,  and  the  spirits  of  all  became  more  buoy- 
ant. In  the  fitful  glow  of  the  dim  light,  with  hopes 
revived,  or  immediate  apprehension  somewhat  stilled, 
they  awaited  morning.     The  storm  showed  signs  of  abate- 


50  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

ment.  The  hours  passed  slowly,  but  at  length  the  dim 
dawn  appeared.  Making  their  way  to  the  deck,  as  soon 
as  there  was  sufficient  light  to  see  there,  they  beheld  a  still 
turbulent  sea;  but  the  wind  had  subsided  and  the  sky 
gave  speedy  promise  of  serenity.  On  the  other  side  they 
beheld  a  rock-bound  shore ;  their  badly  dilapidated  vessel, 
foundered  on  a  rough  shoal,  was  wedged  in  between  two 
peaks  projecting  from  the  rocky  bottom  beneath  the 
water,  like  two  rugged,  intercepting  sentinels  —  which 
proved  a  happy  circumstance  for  them.  Falling  on  their 
knees — they  were  devout  people  — they  thanked  God  for 
this  unexpected  deliverance. 

The  sun  arose,  and  all  became  bright  and  gay  again  in 
nature ;  frivolous,  as  though  its  own  turmoils  and  embroil- 
ments had  not  recently  darkened  many  another  home,  and 
brought  gloom  and  despondency  to  hearts  which  had  often 
rebounded  at  the  brilliancy  of  its  bland  smiles. 

The  ladies  had  speedily  prepared  a  bounteous  warm 
breakfast  which  revived  the  party  to  a  considerable  extent; 
upon  the  suggestion  of  their  leader,  a  small  quantity  of 
liquor  stimulant  was  imbibed  by  each,  to  offset  the  terrible 
strain  of  the  last  few  days'  ordeals;  and  all  repaired  to 
their  couches  for  a  few  hours  rest,  now  that  excitement 
was  beginning  to  wane  succumbing  to  fatigue;  other 
unconsciousness,  save  that  of  benign  sleep,  brings  no  rest. 
There  is  nothing  more  to  add,  save  that  their  experi- 
ences upon  landing  on  and  exploring  these  shores,  were 
similar  to  mine  ;  for  though  our  respective  points  of  loca- 
tion were  widely  separated,  their  topography,  climate  and 
productions  varied  little. 

The  vessel  did  not  last  long;  as  soon  as  they  had  prepared 
sufficient  quarters,  they  removed  everything  they  could,  and 
as  the  ship  broke  up  assiduously  gathered  and  saved  all 
the  parts  they  could  transport  to  land  from  its  wreckage, 


THE  TRIALS  OF  OTHERS.  51 

subsequently  raising  also  many  of  the  heavier  parts  that 
had  remained  in  the  water,  using  these  latter  for  the  pur- 
poses of  their  other  industries.  Of  these  remnants  there 
still  remained  some  vestiges,  as  reminders  of  the  toils  of 
some  far  away  skillful  race;  and  true  gems  of  reliques 
they  were. 

Convinced  that  an  early  deliverance  was  improbable 
they  devoted  themselves  to  their  new  life,  which  opened  to 
be  sure  but  an  obscure,  narrow  vista.  They  adopted  regu- 
lations and  set  resolutely  about  making  themselves  as 
comfortable  as  possible  —  not  a  bad  tribute  to  English 
character  —  in  which  moreover  they  succeeded  admirably. 

After  awhile  their  population  began  to  grow ;  so  that, 
when  I  arrived,  the  original  persons  having  all  passed 
away,  there  were  fifty  in  all,  descendants  of  the  first 
parents  now  almost  one  family.  To  this  was  added,  a 
few  days  later,  a  bright  bouncing  little  fellow,  who,  in 
honor  of  my  appearance  almost  coincident  with  his,  was 
named  "Penrod  Hilbuck  "  before  his  honorable  surname 
"  Mason " ;  and  I  became  consequently  and  by  choice  his 
principal  sponsor,  in  company  with  an  estimable  young 
lady,  Kathleen  Bertram.  Keep  an  "eye"  on  the  little 
"Pen"! 

The  names  of  the  first  arrivals  on  this  lonely  but  beau- 
tiful shore,  were  John  (the  leader  referred  to)  and  Elvira 
Bertram,  Phelix  and  Alice  Mason  and  Vernon  Gregory  and 
Lucy  Marianne  Talbot. 


52  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


MY    FIRST    LECTURE. 


I  spent  fully  the  first  week  in  delicious  idleuess.  Pet- 
ted and  pampered  by  everyone  as  never  before,  and 
feasted  every  day,  I  was  the  hero  of  the  hour. 

They  were  delightful  people.  Guile  and  stealth  had 
not  crept  into  their  circle  to  impose  on  them  a  hard,  sus- 
picious, hypocritical  existence. 

I  was  now  thirty  years  of  age.  One  fascinat- 
ing stately  blonde  young  lady  began  from  the  start 
to  exercise  a  charm  over  me.  Her  large,  expres- 
sive, deep,  gloriously  blue  eyes,  and  her  purely  golden- 
hued  hair,  shimmering  and  glimmering  like  silken  threads 
as  it  hung  in  rippling  floods  down  far  below  her 
waist,  added  to  her  magnificent  person  and  bearing  and 
noble  yet  gentle  demeanor,  reminded  me  of  the  idyllic 
dreams  of  pure,  effulgent,  feminine  realization. 

This  little  community  was  conducted  in  exquisite  order. 
Its  founders  had  inaugurated  the  best  of  their  old  customs 
at  home  and  had  handed  the  same  down  to  their  progeny. 
Therefore  each  family  resided  by  itself,  in  a  beautiful 
home,  varying  with  individual  tastes ;  and,  upon  marriage, 
each  young  couple  was  equipped  in  a  separate  home ;  each 
family  had  its  own  garden-plot,  and  raised  its  own  pro- 
visions on  land  exclusively  occupied  by  itself.  Thus, 
individual  inclinations  could  be  gratified  without  infring- 
ing upon  the  rights  and  time  that  proportionately 
might  belong  to  others ;  and  the  little  castle  ever 
dear  to  the  heart  might  have  its  independent  existence. 


MY  FIRST  LECTURE.  53 

Already  trading  was  introduced,  for,  this  one  or  that, 
better  skilled  and  so  inclined  to  produce  some  useful 
or  ornamental  article,  found  ready  assent  from  the  others 
to  his  employment,  and  was  excused  from  the  common 
co-operation  in  other  things,  to  that  extent.  One  individ- 
ual engaged  his  whole  attention  in  teaching  the  children 
in  a  school  they  had  established ;  led  in  their  devotional 
exercises,  Sunday  being  religiously  observed;  and  was 
also  their  annalist  and  general  secretary,  keeper  of  the 
archives  and  library;  besides  being  the  scholar  of  the 
community  by  reason  of  his  familiarity  and  constant  con- 
tact with  the  old  library  —  in  the  matter  of  scholarship, 
however,  I  may  add  that  the  others  were  not  much  behind 
him. 

This  official's  bodily  necessities  had  thus  to  be  supplied 
from  the  contributions  of  the  rest,  who  received  the  bene- 
fits from  his  exclusive  endeavors.  This  is  the  basis  of 
interchange  of  values,  founded  on  personal  independence 
and  liberty,  and  must  exist  in  all  thriving  communities,  a 
mutual  division,  yielding  and  receiving.  A  community 
absolved  from  individual  efforts  robs  a  person  of  his  con- 
sistent freedom  and  thwarts  his  intellectual  growth. 

A  community  of  goods,  however,  with  popular  election 
of  the  votaries  to  the  several  employments,  comes  nearest 
to  this  liberty,  where  the  latter  is  being  abused  and 
requires  an  equitable  adjustment.  It  is  all  wrong,  that  it 
is  so  hard  for  worthy  people  to  get  along,  in  our  civilized 
countries;  these  affairs  must  be  eased  up,  somewhere,  and 
there  is  no  excuse  for  the  improper  conduct  of  them,  any- 
where ;  it  is  caused  by  the  imbecility  of  the  people  in  the 
main,  but  they  are  corrupted  by  the  perniciousness  of 
exclusive  rulers. 

I  found  thus  here  so  far  an  orderly  arrangement, 
studiously  observed  and  fostered. 


54  TIIE   TROUBLE    OF   LIVING   ALONE. 

Their  tools  and  mechanical  contrivances  consisted  of 
some  remaining  from  the  ship,  and  the  rest  ingeniously 
fashioned  after  these  examples ;  and,  incited  and  directed 
in  a  measure  by  the  disclosures  of  the  scientific  works  in 
their  library,  they  had  made  excellent  and  advantageous 
experiments  and  employed  many  of  the  agencies  with 
which  nature  abounds  far  beyond  our  present  ken.  Even 
art  had  its  commendable  and  happy  votaries. 

One  evening  I  was  asked  to  give  an  account  of  my 
native  country.  I  had  told  them  many  things,  in  part 
and  in  individual  sketches,  and  had  prepared  the  fruitful 
soil  of  their  minds  for  other  knowledge ;  but  they  wanted 
a  more  extended  description  of  the  whole.  I  consented, 
not  without  some  misgivings,  and  the  following  Thursday 
evening  was  selected  for  my  debut  on  the  rostrum ;  which, 
arriving,  I  spoke: 

"MY  country  and  men. 

Full  many  a  mile,  ay  thousands,  it  lies  away, 

My  country,  my  native  vale,  my  land  of  youth  ! 

Its  broad  expanse  one  score  eight  hundred  miles 

From  sea  to  sea,  the  mountain-skirt  Pacific 

And  pine-clad  range  of  the  Atlantic  shore  — 

Not  ocean-washed,  these  stern  acclivous  hills, 

But,  by  a  coast  extending  varying  miles  — 

And,  sixteen  hundred  miles,  from  lakes  and  Britain's 

land 
To  gulf  and  Mexico's  wild,  woolly  stretch. 
The  sun,  refreshed,  smiles  on  united  soil, 
As,  bringing  morn,  emerges  from  east's  main, 
And  beams  the  day  on  enterprising  folk  ; 
Whilst,  all  along,  it  passes  pleasing  scenes  — 
Fine,  rolling  land,  great,  fertile  plains, 
With  shimmering  dots,  and  silvery,  sinuous  threads, 
All  speckled  with  the  handicraft  of  man ; 
And  bids  good-eve  to  sturdy,  gem-ribbed  cliffs, 


MY  FIBST  LECTURE.  55 

To  glimmer  back  from  snow-clad  crests  good-night 

And  peaceful  rest ;  then,  laves  its  heated  face.  — 

When,  first,  that  land  did  greet  the  mariners'  eyes, 

1  Twas  much  entangled  o'er  with  thrifty  growth ; 

But,  here  and  there,  a  space  where  man  did  reign  — 

A  wild  or  unrestrained  tribal  kind, 

With,  yet,  of  art,  that  gave  him  human  grace ; 

And  there  he  roamed  as  free  as  nature  rank. 

The  mighty  oak  was  emblem  of  the  soil, 

And  reared  its  kingly  crest,  through  storm  and  age, 

Set  in  the  garniture  of  arbors'  bowers 

(Of  species  multiplied  by  kind,  degree, 

And  fructifying,  well  as  timbers'  spoils)  ; 

From  winter's  piny  knolls,  through  brumal  winds, 

And  pitchy  realms  in  semi-tropic  air, 

To  rocky  wastes,  where  tower  or  cling  the  trees, 

The  forest-tracks  were  acres  of  deep  gloom  — 

Impressive  scene.     Here  roved  the  buck 

(■And  roams  poetic  fancy  in  the  fane) 

And,  when  the  vernal  burst  gave  glory's  kiss, 

Led  roe  and  doe  unto  luxuriant  plain. 

There  teemed  of  animal  life  and  strife. 

The  savage  man  trod  through  in  cautious-wise, 

Bent  to  his  chase,  or  cruel  retribute, 

And,  scarcely,  noted  how  the  soil  bare  fruits, 

Or  limpid  streams  might  bear  to  precious  marts. 

The  happy  songsters  trilled  their  lays,  I  fain, 

On  listless  ears,  that  deemed  their  notes  in  vain. 

The  enterprising  folk  have  turned  the  tide, 

In  which  calm  nature  steadily  progressed, 

To  so  constrain  it,  somewhat,  to  their  use, 

That  light  has  dawned  within  those  forest-glades  — 

Where  pilgrims,  seeking  that  inviting  shore, 

Found  hardy  toil,  and  hewed  and  wrought, 

That,  soon,  the  aspect  smiled  with  cozy  cheer, 

As  danger  after  danger  ceased  to  lurk ; 

Now,  erstwhiles  wilderness  has  lost  its  clue. 

From  foe  without  and  foe  within, 

That  hardy  band,  constrained, 

Weft  through  its  way  and  woofed  the  web, 

And  was  not  pent  therein. 


56  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

They've  come,  those  folk,  from  every  foreign  shore  — 

Have  rushed,  into  the  lurking  jaws  of  death 

To  flee  oppression,  which  at  home  they  could  not 

brook, 
That  dauntless  spirit,  which  will  not  enslave ; 
Have,  for  a  conscience'  sake,  sought  peaceful  shores  - 
Wot  peace  nought  threat'ning  but  the  outward  man ; 
Have  sheltered  in  the  balm  of  freedom's  bliss. 
Some  bold  adventurers  sought  worldly  gain ; 
Some  fled  for  crime,  some  banished  came ; 
And,  yearly,  thronged  this  course  of  wistful  wights, 
All  bent  on  profit,  to  this  land  of  hope. 
And  faith  esteems  that,  which  it  makes : 
If  profit,  then,  thereto  betakes. 
Foundations,  thus,  built  profit'bly,  sure, 
For  profit,  then,  must,  still,  endure. 
A  country's,  profit,  fundament 
Must  rear  it  to  the  firmament. 
All  certainty  lies  inherent,  its  own  bliss  ! 
Not  long,  until,  our  fellow-men,  with  jealous  eye, 
Began  to  list,  with  av'rice,  toward  the  setting  sun, 
And  sought  to  menacle  with  might  that  range. 
Alas!  the  foe  without  to  augment  what 
Within  had.  been  the  years  of  dire  distress ! 
But,  recking  not  the  prowess,  that  a  right  imbues, 
Our  hateful  brethren  fared  the  lot  of  traves. 
And  never  was  a  freer  freedom  struck, 
When  valor,  growing  wrothy,  brigue  forsook, 
And  smote  the  tyranny  of  ruthless  cant. 
With,  then,  a  rest  gained  after  so  great  trials, 
The  nation  grew,  cemented,  in  its  ties 
Of  noble  patriots,  whom  pain  made  wise, 
In  that  charmed  region,  seemingly,  God-blessed; 
And  danger,  that  had  made  a  common  foe, 
Had  welded  consonance  to  stem  the  woe. 
No  wonder,  noblest  words  from  lip  or  pen 
Graced  many  a  page  and  echoed  mount  and  glen: 
For,  manhood  throttled,  there,  the  vice  of  power ! 
Apace,  then,  grew  the  peaceful  arts  of  life, 
As  soon  bright  meadows  laughed  to  grain-crowned 

hills, 


MY  FIRST  LECTURE.  5? 

And  gentle  domesticity  gained  sway. 

Small  marts,  with  all  the  bustle  of  the  trading  world, 

In  sprinkling  dots,  sprung  on  the  busy  scene ; 

And,  as  the  frontier  more  and  more  grew  hence, 

The  reign  of  peace  took  on  a  firmer  hold, 

And  former  avocations  missed  their  wilds ; 

The  savage  man,  and  equal  savage  beast, 

But  glowered  from  their  lairs  with  quivering  fear, 

And  noted  with  what  fell,  encroaching  strides 

The  march  of  progress  settled  on  their  range. 

I  left,  my  auditors,  a  country  borne, 

In  this  our  century,  on  wings  of  peace 

(■But,  after  some  hard  turbulences  quelled) 

And  glorious  progress  in  the  every  world ; 

I  saw,  about  me,  spread  the  arts  of  life ; 

I  could  behold  the  busy  weaver's  skill, 

His  taste  of  beauty  and  his  choice  of  will ; 

The  artisan  wrought  many  useful  things ; 

The  miller  plied  his  steady,  needful  grind; 

The  forge  was  busy,  loud  the  smithy  clanged; 

And  miners  delved  the  bowels  of  the  earth; 

Of  kine,  and  kindred,  all  the  life  of  farm, 

Whose  fertile  acres  pictured  Ceres'  smile  — 

I  could  delect  you  till  your  ears  grow  dull. 

They  make  of  clothes  and  can  prepare  their  food  — 

From  finest  stuffs  to  coarser  raiment  kind, 

Of  grains  and  fruits,  that  reach,  near,  all  the  sorts  — 

In  short,  there  is  but  little,  that  the  nation  wants. 

With  sixty  million  people,  scattered  shore  to  shore, 

In  peaceful  homes,  well-guarded  by  their  love, 

The  flight  of  genius  coursed  such  atmosphere, 

And  marvels,  there,  are  wrought  of  nature's  help, 

Adjusted,  in  devices,  for  the  deeds, 

That  have  facilitated  joyful  needs. 

Four  centuries  is  but  all  that's  covered  now. 

Yet,  in  that  time,  where  naked  red-skins  roved, 

And  forest-growth  and  flowers  flourished  wild, 

And  beasts  of  prey  were  dang'rous  to  behold, 

A  pow'rful  nation  ranks  all  other  lands  ! 

With  farm  and  mine  and  forest-tracks  supplies ; 

And  grazing  meads  for  herds,  and  masting  swine; 


58  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

With  garden-plants  and  fruits ;    the  cotton  bush  and 

vine ; 
The  crop  of  fleece,  and  silk-worin's  little  knot, 
Their  semi-tropics  and  their  temperate  zone 
Extend  so  far,  that  they  could  live  alone  — 
That  is,  if  sense  and  spirit  limit  to  a  spot. 
But,  all  the  world  is  the  American's  home  ! 
Their  land  could  be  enbound  with  metal  bands, 
And  sped  thereo'er,  their  genius  has  devised, 
Long  sentry-trains  armed  with  a  potent  force, 
That  not  an  instant  be  devoid  of  guard, 
And  messages,  dashed  through  with  lightning  gait, 
Could  course  the  circle  in  few  minutes'  time, 
Or  call  the  people  to  their  borders'  forts ; 
And  sent'nels,  cruising  on  the  mains  and  lakes, 
Could  be  the  watch-dogs  of  their  landing-shores  ! 
But,  times,  immurements  crumble,  as  they  fostered 

past! 
But,  genius  flourished  in  that  land  of  grace. 
Called  to  its  birth  by  adverse,  cruel  tides, 
It  armed  its  friends  with  gifts  of  val'rous  minds, 
And  hence  they  smote,  alway,  with  bravest  deeds ; 
Then  was  surmounted  what  encroached  the  way, 
And  laid  the  basis  of  a  virtuous  cause, 
Wherein  its  acts  of  kindness  did  not  pause ; 
A  policy,  urged  with  a  fervor,  bent 
Upon  internal,  external,  eternal  rights, 
Was  made  to  emanate  from  righteous  hearts, 
Than  which  no  body  politic  had  purer  parts. 
The  conscience  free,  and  homes  made  more  secure, 
The  groundwork  biulded  shall  fore'er  endure  ! 
Then,  genius  nurtured  in  that  land  of  thrift. 
Necessity  establ'shing  its  degree, 
The  keen  alertness,  due  to  healthy  man, 
Caught  on  the  scent  in  the  prolific  air, 
That  scientists  learned  some  twists  of  nature's  laws, 
And,  by  unrav'ling,  struck  on  many  flaws, 
By  which  we  had  been  taught  to  tread  our  ways. 
No  doubt,  these  laws  immutable  were  thus ; 
And,  too,  undoubtedly,  were  once  well-kenned: 
But,  driv'ling  into  oblivion,  burnished  new, 


MY  FIRST  LECTURE.  59 

Were   like    the    glorious    sun -light   to   the    erstwhile 

blind 
And  eftsoons  giddy  ;  the  patient,  toiling  man 
Cleft  through  the  rifts  of  gloomy  mind 
And  murky  faith  and  mean  adversity. 

To  suffer,  ere  the  glory  won ; 

To  die,  perhaps,  when  just  begun; 

Sometime,  to  perish,  ere  it's  spun  — 

In  vain  to  linger,  when  'tis  done ! 
And  yet  the  labor  is  not  one-half  done  ! — 
In  fact  can,  scarcely  say  it  has  begun ; 
Though  we  are  wondrous  at  the  marvelous  gait, 
At  which  our  eyes  've  been  opened  here  of  late, 
I  trow,  'tis  faith,  that  will  remove  the  clouds, 
Reanimate,  where  stupor,  now,  beshrouds ! 
Thus,  genius  fled  not  from  the  conquest  hard. 
As  oft  it  strove,  impassioned  in  its  zeal, 
It  sought  the  world's  advance  and  earthly  weal ; 
It  struggled  in  the  gloomy  hours,  when  night 
But  barely  gives  an  outline  of  its  might, 
And,  with  short  glimpses  by  a  glimmering  ray, 
Devised  some  means  of  ungent,  ambient  way. 
Of  nature's  power  to  nature  is  the  play : 
With  mystic  force,  applied  to  count'ring  sway, 
The  mean  development  is  genius'  lay! 
Where  multitude  requires  multous  things, 
Celerity  now  caters  to  such  wants. 
The  fecund  soil,  on  which  the  settlers  trod, 
Gave  its  response,  as  they  adduced  their  care 
With  such  of  skill  and  tools  at  their  command ; 
The  fur  and  finny  tribes  them  clad  and  fed, 
So  skins  and  flesh  of  other  beasts,  and  fowl, 

And  vegetable  growths  and  fruitings  fair; 
And,  as  the  silent  monarchs  fell  at  strokes, 
They  yielded  shelter  and  protection,  in  their  course. 
Thus  fared  the  pioneer,  to  danger  heark'ning, 
Oft,  with  a  blanched  cheek;  the  stealthy  lurking 
Of  foe,  to  seek  his  life-flowing  blood, 
But  gave  him  cautious  front  and  hardihood. 
Of  opportun'ty  born  of  ample  fold; 
Of  ingenuity  thriving  with  distress ; 


GO  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Of  noble  efforts  feeling  on  their  way 

To  circumscribe  the  peccant  finitude: 

Born,  raised,  surmounted  plenitude  — 

O'erstepped  the  bounds,  that  threatened  it  to  stop 

That  furtive  adiaphan  might  chase  its  way. 

An  amaranth  place  for  those  worthy  souls, 

Who  graved  the  human  cause  on  honor's  rolls ! 

Swiftly,  now,  the  message  bears  in  missive  fire 

From  nook  to  nook  the  tale  of  early  news, 

With  speed,  almost,  in  which  the  heart  could  yearn. 

And  sounds  speed  through  the  space,  reft  into  clefts, 

Sewn  by  wire-threads  drawing  into  inguinal  parts. 

You  may  preserve  your  cherished  sounds  and  words, 

And,  handing  down  your  phiz,  write,  lock  of  hair, 

May,  too,  encase  your  voice  in  fav'rite  ditty, 

Or,  with  your  elocpaence,  in  passionate  role, 

For  devolution  to  posterity. 

With  unctuous  animation,  like  a  whirl, 

To  rush  trite  action  to  the  fleet  of  time, 

You  may  be  carried,  whither,  to  or  hence. 

To  feed  the  hungry,  and  the  limbs  to  clothe, 

One  pair  of  hands  may  serve  ten  thousands,  more 

If  need  there  be  compliance  to  be  pressed, 

As,  to  their  guidance,  yield  a  million  powers  — 

And  more,  if  need  there  be,  and  will. 

And,  yet,  this  sweet,  beneficent  decree 

Is,  not  at  all,  beginning  to  be  known. 

And,  though,  one  pair,  now,  caters  to  the  mil, 

Each  of  the  thousand  caters  back  again, 

In  one  long  ceaseless  twirl; 

Enlarging,  twisting,  labyrinthine  ways, 

Untorn,  unending  in  their  joined  tours, 

Each  forming  ringlets  from  a  new-born  ray, 

Bound  in  a  circlet  of  an  endless  sway."' 

They  expressed  satisfaction  at  this  my  effort,  but  also 
regret  at  its  brevity,  in  that  it  did  not  dwell  on  the  con- 
trivances referred  to,  as  to  construction  and  applied  adapt- 
ability to  practical  uses,  and  the  manipulations  of  their 
products.   Others   desired  to  know  more   of   the  political 


WHAT  IS  LOVE.  61 

organization  and  government  of  the  people,  and  their  prin- 
cipal pursuits  and  objectives:  again,  others  were  concerned 
with  the  apprehensions  of  and  provision  for  a  future  exist- 
ence—  and  the  dear  ladies  wanted  to  know  something  of 
the  customs,  habits  and,  though  of  course  slightly  hinted, 
of  the  means  of  allurement  by  the  counter  sexes. 

And  divers  other  sequent  items  from  all,  now  grown 
brave  and  curious ;  so  that  I  regarded  my  first  effort  with 
a  sufficient  mixture  of  alarm  and  comprehension  to  assure 
them,  individually,  of  an  intended  compliance  with  their 
requests  in  the  early  future.  In  the  meantime  I  set  my 
wheels  of  cogitation  and  reflection  to  work. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

WHAT    IS    LOVE. 

The  bloom  and  blossom  may  delight  the  eye 
And  please  some  sense  and  may  dispense 
With  many  a  sigh  —  but  where's  the  prism 
Of  sweet  and  tender,  clear  and  blissful  zest  ? 

As  before  indicated,  I  had  formed  a  decided  feeling  of 
attachment  for  Kathleen  Bertram,  the  daughter  of  the 
elder  of  my  discoverers. 

From  the  moment  I  saw  her,  which  was  very  soon  after 
landing,  I  was  inspired  of  a  near  and  important  pres- 
ence, that  sensation  of  intelligence  in  the  natural  and 
spiritual  universe  of  the  mutual  fitness  of  things 
and  conditions. 

This  veridicalism  may  not  be  philosophically  realized  at 
the  time,  but,  despite  subsequent  distresses  and  strictures 
on  its  authenticity,  develops  and  superintends  the  fitness 
of  the  establishment. 


62  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

■  Appearing  tall,  she  'stood  erect,  a  type  of  the  pure,  rosy, 
golden  blonde,  in  the  maturing  stages  of  maiden  develop- 
ment. Her  abundant  tresses,  which,  when  unconfined,  as 
they  sometimes  were,  were  sufficient  to  envelop  her  in 
maze  or  mist  to  her  feet,  a  silken  shimmer  of  softness, 
beauty  and  golden  hue  almost  indescribable  in  its  ravish- 
ing effect,  were  then  loosely  coiled  high  at  the  back  of  her 
symmetrical  head,  whilst  loose  strands  waved  naturally 
in  dallying  silkiness  back  from  her  white  and  shapely 
brow. 

If  at  first  she  noticed  me  at  all,  it  must  have  been  but 
incidentally  to  note  the  presence  of  a  strange  face,  and  the 
interest  of  this  novelty  was  for  the  moment  subdued  in  the 
passionate  delight  of  the  reunion  with  her  father,  which 
was  exhibited  with  such  natural  grace.  An  unbeguiled 
child  of  nature  in  that  quiet  and  undefiled  far-off  spot, 
reared  in  innocence,  a  delightful  embellishment  to  the 
beautiful  scenery  of  that  paradise !  Eagerly  trans- 
ported as  I  was  at  the  time,  to  behold  humanity  again, 
prepared  to  hail  as  magnificent  and  inspiring  the  humblest 
of  mankind,  and  feasting  my  eyes,  as  though  upon  the 
most  beautiful  vision  of  my  life,  intently,  uninterruptedly, 
persistently  on  the  whole  group;  yet  the  spirit  itself 
made  a  distinction  even  at  that  time,  and  an  involuntary 
thrill  coursed  through  my  veins,  whenever  I  caught  a 
glimpse  of  her.  But  nothing  in  her  demeanor  evinced 
anything  but  curiosity  with  reference  to  me ;  although  her 
whole  carriage  and  manner  portrayed  inherent  modesty 
and  naive  virtue,  that  would,  I  believe,  have  withstood 
any  onslaught  in  any  society  —  that  is,  she  possessed  and 
manifested  an  eminently  pure  heart  and  mind.  For  the 
strict  decorum  handed  down  as  rules  by  the  first  settlers 
here,  had  been  so  quietly  and  firmly  perpetuated,  so  under- 
stood as  a  matter  of  course,  that  in  fact  no  one  had  even 


WHAT  IS  LOVE?  63 

dreamed  of  a  breach  thereof.  Her  undoubted  intellectual- 
ity shone  from  her  radiant  face;  her  skin  was  white, 
smooth  and  soft,  with  a  pinkish  tincture  in  her  cheeks  to 
give  lusciousness  to  the  picture,  and  that  firm,  compact, 
full  flesh  of  youth  and  complete  health. 

In  the  interim  of  the  month,  my  reanimation,  preceding 
my  narrated  lecture,  I  was  charmingly  engaged  in  culti- 
vating the  acquaintance  of  these  interesting  personages, 
whose  physical  health,  vigor  and  comeliness  were  no  more 
remarkable  than  their  mental  and  intellectual  capacities. 
That  their  want  of  actual  contact  with  things  of,  what  we 
may  choose  to  call  the  world,  frequently  disclosed  itself  to 
me,  was  to  be  expected ;  but,  on  that  account,  as  auditors 
they  left  nothing  to  be  desired.  I  sometimes  reflected, 
that  their  attention  resembled  what  would  be  our  attitude 
(out  in  our  world)  if  an  accredited  agent  from  heaven 
were  to  recount  incidents  thereof  in  our  midst,  but  prob- 
ably, owing  to  our  cultivated  conceits  and  attrite  skepti- 
cisms,  we   should   show   less    deference.      During    these 

conversations,    in    the    intervals    of    their    labors for, 

strange  as  it  may  seem,  these  free  and  multi-supplied  folk 
were  a  very  busy  and  industrious  set— nearly  all,  old  and 
young,  would  be  present. 

Kathleen  was  a  most  attentive  listener,  quiet,  not  even 
venturing  a  question  or  remark ;  and  as  on  opportune  occa- 
sions I  had  begun  to  scan  her  lovely  visage  (under  what- 
ever arduous  labor  of  discourse,  that  was  all  the 
refreshment  I  needed)  I  found  her  large,  beautiful,  soulful 
eyes  gazing  toward  me  with  wondrous  expression,  with  a 
greater  vision  inwardly,  in  the  mental  conjectures  and 
adaptations  of  the  reality  to  the  impressions  gained  by  the 
account,  than,  apparently,  attracted  by  anything  in  their 
normal  and  nominal  range.  To  have  been  piqued  in  my 
vanity,  on  that  account,  would  have  been  useless much 


64  THE    TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

more  the  silly  and  unhappy  destruction  of  a  charming  and 
elevating  spectacle.  I  loved  to  draw  out  my  narrative,  to 
dwell  with  almost  breathless  abidance,  to  sip  the 
honey  of  the  beautifully  unfolding  flower  at  such 
rare  moments,  to  view  the  effects  or  reproductions  in  this, 
one  of  nature's  most  brilliant,  sensitive,  human  mirrors  — 
nature  reproduces  or  illustrates  every  principle  in  life  — 
for  her  native  innocence,  never  having  been  invaded  by 
our  overdrawn  or  perverted  culture,  suggested  no  destruc- 
tion or  bare  discrimination. 

My  converse,  on  these  occasions,  Avas  desultory  and 
suggested  by  random  remarks  and  momentary  occurrences. 
My  first  effort  at  any  formal  instruction  was  my  just 
recounted  lecture.  This  was,  also,  the  occasion  leading  to 
my  first  opportunity  at  a  passage  with  my  beloved. 

The  following  morning  I  set  about  an  engagement  to 
construct  a  contrivance,  recalled  to  me  by  my  former  expe- 
rience, which  I  perceived  would  be  useful  here,  and,  for 
the  purpose  of  my  labors,  took  up  a  convenient  location, 
somewhat  elevated  and  on  a  near  cliff,  overlooking  the 
ocean  and  also  the  plantation  on  the  land-side.  What 
was  my  surprise  and  delight  when,  as  I  was  gazing  out  to 
sea  and  picturing  busy  scenes  way  off  in  Ohio  with  Kath- 
leen as  a  central  figure,  I  heard  someone  approach  behind 
me  and  turned,  to  become  aware  of  the  sole  presence  I 
desired  above  all  others — Kathleen,  dazzlingly  beautiful. 
Unabashed,  she  decorously  remarked  that  she  hoped 
she  was  not  disturbing  me;  but  having  finished 
her  immediate  task,  with  a  few  minutes  at  her 
disposal,  she  had  felt  a  curiosity  regarding  a  matter 
I  had  vaguely  touched  upon  in  my  late  public  discourse,  and 
hoped  that  I  would  not  be  indisposed  to  gratify  her.  I  was 
only  too  delighted,  as  you  can  imagine,  and  hastily  rising, 
bowed  her  to  my  comfortably  constructed  seat,  setting  up  a 


WHAT  IS  LOVE?  65 

block  a  few  feet  distant  for  mine.  She  demurely  took  the 
proffered  place,  with  an  evident  air  of  total  absorption  in 
whatever  was  engrossing  her  reflections.  I  was  overjoyed 
with  the  prospect  of  even  a  few  minutes  alone  with  her, 
and  viewed  her  with  admiration  beyond  any  efforts  at  con- 
cealment, which  to  a  maiden  of  our  civilized  society  would 
have  been  embarrassing,  but  on  this  sprig  of  naivete  was 
completely  lost. 

Sat,  tall,  five-six  to  measure  her  neat  height ; 
A  linten  garment  flowing  to  her  form 
And  girt  about  her  shapely,  slender  waist ; 
One  foot,  clad  wooden-soled  and  linen-up, 
Was  crossed  o'er  other  likewise  e'en  so  meet; 
Her  slender  hands  lay  rested  on  her  lap. 
In  graceful  poise,  bent  with  attentive  ear, 
Her  luminous  orbs  filled  with  abstracted  light 
Turned  toward  the  deep,  that  lay  before  her  view, 
As  to  draw  in  its  depths,  as  well  as  yond, 
While  paling  cloudless  skies  before  their  hue, 
With  brightness  that  might  mirror  sparkling  founts, 
In  that  keen  interest  of  the  human  soul 

That  gnaws  within  the  convent  of  its  wist, 

Her  visage  glowed  with  that  pure  burst  of  light 

That  puzzles  whither  her  perplexing  front  — 

A  crown  of  golden  silk  above  her  brow 

That  dazzled  o'er  the  same  a  yearned-for  bliss  ; 

Yet  she  so  innocent  of  all  desire. 

She  hearkens  for  a  sound  to  wake  her  will, 

She  listens  for  the  craved,  she  knows  not  what 

That  stirs  the  animation  of  God's  breath 

And  rouses  in  the  bosom  blest  aspire  — 

Oh,  curious  innocence,  oh,  ignorant  will ! 

As  mildly  as  the  tremulousness  of  my  voice  would  per- 
mit me  I  inquired  her  wish.  Without  the  least  agitation, 
and  frankly  turning  her  eyes  toward  me,  with  every  illu- 


66  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

sion  of  any  covertness  of  gaze  dispelled  from  the  most 
seeking  scrutiny,  and  with  the  inkling  of  an  artless,  lovely 
smile  playing  about  her  fascinating  lips,  she  said:  "I 
wish  to  know  something  of  the  customs  and  pastime  of 
the  young  people  of  the  country  you  came  from.  Are 
they  kind  in  their  intercourse  with  each  other  ?  Do  they 
romp  and  are  they  gay  and  light-hearted?  I  have  read 
eomething  about  amusements  of  the  young  in  different 
books  we  have,  but  those  occurrences  are  so  long  ago,  that, 
although  I  know  those  works  nearly  all  by  memory,  I 
have  never  exactly  felt  toward  the  subjects  of  these  nar- 
ratives as  though  they  were  or  could  become  play-fellows. 
You,  who  have  passed  through  the  actual  experience  — 
just,  to  think,  actual  contact !  It  seems  so  marvelous,  that 
I  cannot  but  connect  you,  almost,  with  some  existence 
beyond  or  other,  than  ours  —  something,  that  fills  me  with 
ideas  of  inexplicable  mystery."  I  hung  on  every  word, 
sound,  that  passed  her  lips  ! 

"I  am  not  surprised,"  I  said,  "that  you  should  have 
such  feelings.  Your  delightful  little  society,  the  very 
embodiment  of  ideal  peace  and  tranquillity  on  earth,  would 
know  nothing  but  repose,  were  it  not  for  this  inherent 
longing  for  something  bej-ond;  but  the  human  heart 
begins  to  yearn,  the  mind  to  crave,  the  whole  keen 
insight  to  grow  alert  for  the  measure  of  circumclusion. 

"  Think  of  the  trials  and  tribulations  that  accompanied 
the  settlements  and  aggregations  of  the  different  peoples, 
reft  and  sundered  and  swayed  by  their  jealousies  and  ani- 
mosities and  developed  greeds,  and  how  the  ties  of  rela- 
tionships were  severed  or  elasticated  until  they  became 
weak  and  could  return  no  more. 

"  And  contrast  therewith  the  peace  which  prevails  here, 
with  no  disturbing  element  except  the  natural  ambition 
for  knowledge. 


WHAT  IS  LOVE?  67 

"Now  you  would  marvel  that  anyone  should  entertain 
regret  at  leaving  such  a  state  of  society  and  could  desire 
to  return  thereto.  Well  in  stoicism  it  does  appear  incon- 
gruous ;  in  logical  sequence  it  seems  that  all  thinking  per- 
sons would  hasten  to  withdraw  from  such  chaos,  and, 
in  the  solitude  of  secluded  spots,  commune  with  undefiled 
nature  and  nature's  God  for  the  inspiration  in  calm  repose 
and  aspiration  for  the  spiritual  existence.  Inherently, 
does  not  the  human  soul  long  for  peace;  or  is  it  an 
element  of  cherishing  warfare  ? 

"Born  a  part  of  the  conglomerate  mass,  to  seethe 
and  surge  with  its  revolutions  —  he  is  but  the  skep- 
tic, the  eccentric,  the  unprofitable  to  himself  and 
others,  who  attempts  to  withdraw  himself;  and  then  only 
with  partial  success,  when  he  sinks  to  the  degree  of  the 
wild  beast,  whose  companionship  in  that  event  he  cher- 
ishes to  supply  the  attachments  of  his  spiritual  nature, 
unless  a  higher  hope  can  supplant  the  present  desire.  It 
is  unnatural  for  anything  whatever  in  nature  to  be  alone. 

"  Fellow-being  is  as  essential,  as  gratifying,  and  as  inti- 
mately interwoven  into  our  constitutions  as  it  is  material  to 
our  developments ;  so  should  its  intercourse  be  as  consist- 
ently and  universally  at  liberty  as  prudence  and  propriety 
with  reference  to  our  shortcomings  can  permit.  But  the 
stronger  should  first  take  off  the  burden  of  the  weaker. 

"The  active  philosopher,  the  worthy  preacher,  the  honor- 
able man,  is  he  who  acts  and  struggles,  not  above  or 
below,  but  with  the  populace — but  neither  reserved 
beyond  their  pale,  nor  enveloped  in  their  dross,  from 
which  a  proper  activity  will  always  secure  him.  An 
exerted  leverage  is  well,  but  he  must  appreciate  the  resist- 
ance to  apply  the  power.  Society  transmits  its  powers; 
it  transcends  its  rights,  or  rather  it  abuses  its  privileges. 

"Periodically,  a  wave  of  evolution  sweeps  over  it,  and 


08  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

seems  to  search  the  very  crevices  in  its  cleansing  or  jar- 
ring powers  —  and  affairs  take  another  drift.  Watch  the 
potent  little  influences  —  for  a  time,  the  sentiments  or 
linguistry  of  a  book,  the  exalted  similitudes  of  a 
series  of  dramatic  representations;  the  outpouring  of  elo- 
quence that  springs  from  periods  of  great  calamity;  how 
the  cogencies  thereof  overspread  into  every  part  of  the 
community!  The  centuries  have  continued  their  foibles  — 
references  with  meagre  details  to  active,  somewhat  glorious 
achievements,  the  collapse  to  ruin  in  or  by  which  the 
undying  spirit  reared  in  new  glory,  progress,  rebounding 
ever  as  the  tide  smote  the  wall  of  adamant  separating  this 
from  the  region  of  perfection.  But,  nothing  exceeds  in 
destructiveness  or  value — bringing,  on  the  one  hand,  these 
overwhelming  revolutions,  on  the  other,  overwhelming  the 
agencies,  that  would  produce  the  former — the  steady 
instruction  and  development  of  right,  altogether,  equal,  no 
king  and  no  pauper,  no  priest  and  no  peer,  but,  man's 
shoulder  to  man. 

Oh,  may  we  seek  to  clamber  o'er  this  cast  ? 
With  single  efforts,  then,  we  must  essay  to  scale  — 
The  impetuous  mass  but  bears  us  dashing  on. 
How  do  the  lads  and  embrace  their  golden  hour? 
Born  in  the  moulds  that  foist  them  gloomy  brows 
They  seek  to  shift  from  earliest  dawn  till  death, 
And  cry  "Immortal,  mortal,"  with  expiring  breath! 

"Our  young  folks  find  themselves  diversely  situated: 
some  with  every  golden  opportunity,  princes  and  prin- 
cesses clothed  with  their  semi-godhead,  which  a  half-credu- 
lous or  weak  community  grants  them;  some  with  the 
flowers  of  life  sweet  and  luxuriant  along  their  paths, 
whose  oderiferousness  offers  to  them  their  only  employ- 
ment; some  feel  the  vigor  for  an  active  life,  implanted  in 


WHAT  IS  LOVE?  69 

them,  the  equipment  and  impulse  for  the  necessary  strife, 
while  others  drivel  and  drift,  menaced  and  burdened  from 
the  start,  and  branded  with  the  sears  of  doom!  The 
naturally  perverse,  or  unfortunate  beyond  the  usual  degree 
attendant  upon  everyone,  we  will  not  consider. 

"What  then  are  their  sports  ?  From  the  innocence,  that 
would  make  the  prattling  princess  the  companion  of  the 
beggar's  sprig,  they  drift  through  toys  and  merriment, 
and  tears  and  fears,  distinguishable  only  by  their  several 
opportunities. 

"  Soon  there  breaks  upon  their  common  horizon  a  line 
demarque !  The  tender  sprout,  whose  tendrils  cling  to 
'  upper  life,'  is  held  exempt,  exalts  her  imperious  head, 
and  is  proud;  the  wistful  mite,  of  other  degree,  soon 
learns  the  hard  decree !  Their  sports  adapt  individual 
ingenuity  from  their  means  and  childish  dreams  and  ambi- 
tions produce  respective  gyrations  with  various  success  and 
deportment.  Clothed  and  fed  by  their  parents  according 
to  the  latter's  means  their  society  is  gauged  thereby  and 
rearing  are  the  weeds  or  flowers  from  the  seeds,  plot,  care 
and  attention  and  their  gardener.  Many  an  obscure 
plantlet,  however,  has  proven  the  greatest  blessing  to  the 
world— in  which  alone  lies  the  sterling  quality  of  man- 
hood and  usefulness  of  mankind. 

"In  the  higher  and  more  favored  circles,  the  young 
approach  the  period  of  adolescence  with  much  eager  antici- 
pation, in  the  footsteps  of  their  elders,  or,  consonantly 
with  the  proffered  delights  and  experiences  of  others,  to 
enter  upon  the  established  disports  and  routine  of  fashion. 

"The  gilded  palaces  of  their  parents  and  their  friends' 
parents,  glimmer  and  glitter  with  all  the  trappings  of 
wealth,  and  call  upon  the  resources  and  contrivances  of  the 
world  for  their  luxuries  and  dainties. 

"They  have  horses  and  carriages,  sleighs  and  coachmen; 


70  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

and  they  may  spend  some  of  their  time,  which  only  awaits 
killing,  in  such  locomotion;  then,  they  have  Looks  and  art 
and  music;  and  they  have  physical  exercises  and  bathing 
and  boating  and  skating  and  games ;  and  they  indulge  in 
balls  and  suppers  and  theatres  and  theatricals,  and  teas, 
picnics,  excursions,  parties  — and,  at  last  (often  before) 
shed  tears  and  experience  spiteful  pangs  at  the  'vicissi- 
tudes' of  life  —  attributable  only  to  the  inordinacy  of 
their  desires. 

"  The  upper  society  deems  it  an  unnecessary  condescension 
to  heed  the  less  favored,  though  not  less  worthy,  below, 
unless  when  moments  of  a  leveling  calamity  call  to  their 
minds  the  universal  brotherhood  of  man ;  then  anything  that 
can  soften  the  rigor  of  their  realizations  and  fears  of  the 
common  lot,  are  eagerly  grasped  at. 

"As  a  tribute  to  the  American  people  it  must  be  added, 
my  appreciative  auditor,''  (for  she  sat,  as  though  transfixed 
with  the  interest  she  manifested ;  and  how  I  reveled  in 
the  delicious  attitude ! )  "  that,  in  times  of  great,  widespread- 
ing  distress,  their  responses  to  appeals  for  assistance,  even 
sometimes  before  they  are  uttered,  are  magnanimous  and 
make  no  distinctions,  scarcely  any  restrictions;  oppor- 
tunities that  are,  unfortunately,  often  abused.  And  this 
sentiment  is  growing  in  readiness,  as  the  facilities  are 
improving  for  transmission  of  intelligence- — there  is  an 
appreciable  enlightenment  and  progress  in  this  respect. 

"  The  middle  classes  are  imitative  —  the  happy  mean  from 
choice  or  compulsion  —  often  mere  reflections  of  the  other 
highest  favored  class.  They  are,  unwittingly,  the  strength 
of  a  nation,  because  they  are  forced  to  blend  mere  ideas 
with  the  operation  thereof.  To  blend  with  the  higher 
class  is  their  individual  dream;  to  reach  thereunto  meas- 
ures their  joy. 

"The  lowest  class,  the  proverbial  poor,  grasp  and  snap  in 


WHAT  IS  LOVE?  71 

any  direction,  without  any  well-defined  purpose,  save  that  of 
existence;  and  their  enjoyments  depend  altogether  on 
the  presentations  of  the  moment.  Where  not  a  disease, 
poverty  is  a  crime. 

"  But  usually  they  all  love  and  are  loved  in  turn." 

"  What  is  love  ?  "  here  interposed  Kathleen,  for  the  first 
time  breaking  her  silence.     "  What  is  love  ?  " 

"  What  is  love  ?  "  I  said.  "  It  is  so  old,  or  reputed  to  be, 
that  it  would  have  ripened  into  unutterable  bliss  could  it 
change  in  the  course  of  any  time ;  it  would  illumine  as  it 
does  delight  the  earth.  All !  darling"  —  I  started  at  myself. 
" I  beg  your  pardon,  Kathleen  ;  this  world  would  be  a 
prickly  pear  without  love." 

"Why?"  she  responded,  "I  have  experienced  nothing 
prickly  about  it;  and  I  don't  think  love  has  come  among 
us  —  at  least,  I  have  never  seen  it." 

"Yes,  sweet  —  excuse  me,"  I  stammered;  "it  is  here. 
You  may  not  have  seen  it;  but,  but  —  I  hope  you  will  feel 
it."     (What  a  blundering  fool  is  a  man  in  love  ! ) 

"Will  it  hurt  me  ?  "  she  said. 

"My  sweet  Kathleen  — I  beg  your  pardon,"  again  I 
stammered  (I  could  not  refrain  from  a  certain  abstrac- 
tion of  thought,  which  led  me  to  think  aloud  my  ardent 
wishes  ) ;  "a  fair  young  lady,  like  yourself,  in  all  candor  I 
assure  you,  would  not,  should  never  be  grieved  by  love  — 
pure,  virtuous  stir  of  the  depths  of  emotion  ! " 

Kathleen  seemed  perplexed.  It  was  plain  that  no  feel- 
ing akin  thereto  had  yet  been  awakened  in  her ;  she  did 
not  understand  it.  Sentiments  and  reflections  outside  her 
quiet  life  might  then  first  dawn  upon  her  by  reason  of 
my  presence  and  information.  Was  I,  then,  a  beneficent 
visitor  ?  Might  not  her  life  otherwise  have  been  passed 
in  utter  tranquillity  and  blissful  ignorance  of  the  woes  of 
life?     Fate,   however,  placed  me  here,  so  that  I  felt  no 


72  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

sense  of  guilt.  Providence  had  guided  my  steps,  and  His 
inscrutable  measures  evolve  benefits  out  of  the  means  we 
may  divert  from  their  legitimate  channels — as  the  sequel 
in  this  matter  will  undoubtedly  show. 

Catching  the  puzzled,  quizzical  gaze  in  Kathleen's  soul- 
ful eyes,  I  pitied  her  in  her  quandary  and  evident  struggle 
for  light;  like  the  poor  sunflower,  transplanted  to  and 
unfolding  its  bloom  in  the  Arctic  regions,  on  the  day  of 
undying  light  or  unsetting  sun. 

I  felt,  that,  after  all,  I  was  a  wretch.  But,  as  she  gave 
no  evidence  of  any  pained  feeling,  I  felt  reassured  and 
proceeded : 

u  The  day  has  darkened  into  night  o'er  many  a  lea 
And  weary  plodders  have  returned,  with  tired  tread, 
Unto  their  sheltering  homes ;  a  wistful  glance  is  livened 

by  a  merry  shout 
And  answered  by  a  welcoming  smile  of  — 
It  beams  and  breaks   until   its  warming  rays   infuse  the 

chilly  heart. 
Then  flow  despair  from  off  the  clouded  brow 
And  momentarily  of  earth  forget  the  travails   of  a  few 

dark  hours, 
That  must  course  o'er  us  ere  the  light  we  see! 
Then  'tis  so  said  that  love  bears  on  the  torch 
And  lights  the  pathway  o'er  its  rose-hid  thorns, 
That  many  a  brier  may  be  passed  with  ease. 

"Yet,  you  do  not  understand!  Nay,  not  until  a  Heaven 
blends  two  spirits  with  an  instantaneous  mutual  irradi- 
ance  may  the  passion  of  these  souls  secure  its  natural 
vent.  Such  feelings  need  no  action  of  the  mind:  they  are 
of  the  heart." 


SOME  HISTORY  AS  IT  MIGHT  APPEAR.  Ti 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

SOME  HISTORY  AS   IT  MIGHT  APPEAR. 

A  few  days  after  my  conversation  with  Kathleen,  which 
was  abruptly  terminated  by  a  call  from  her  mother,  in  the 
closing  hours  of  a  heated  afternoon  the  whole  of  this  little 
colony  was  picturesquely  grouped  under  the  shade  of  a 
magnificent  oak,  while  the  children  were  disporting  them- 
selves in  youthful  glee  and  the  yet  intense  rays  of  the 
setting  sun  were  obliquely  illuminating  the  scene.  One 
of  the  elderly  members  recalled  to  us  all  my  promise  to 
discourse  farther  on    the    civilization  I   had  left  behind. 

I  arose,  and  the  silence  and  attention  at  once 
accorded  me  could  not  have  been  more  nattering  or  defer- 
ential. The  curiosity  and  inquiring  solicitude  had  greatly 
increased  among  my  auditors,  all  of  whom  bore  evidences, 
in  their  thoughtful,  wistful  countenances,  of  having,  in  the 
meantime,  spent  many  moments  in  reflection,  no  doubt 
dreaming  rosy  descriptions  of  the  invisible  wonders  just 
beyond  the  horizon.  And  the  various  fancies  I  have  no 
doubt  would  have  proven  a  study.     I  began : 

"No  romancer  ever  stated  or  related  a  thing,  that  was 
not  then  in  existence  somewhere  :  for,  the  spirit  cannot  but 
relate  truth.  He  may  separate  their  parts,  but  he  cannot 
disunite  their  principles. 

"Our  people,  referring  distinctively  to  the  United  States 
of  America,  is  conglomerate;  hence,  every  other  country 
may  claim  kinship  with  us  by  some  distinctive  feature. 
The  cruel  Tartar  mingling,  somewhere,  his  blood  with  the 
Moor,  or  some  gentle  disciple  of  mercy  and  goodness;  the 


74  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

Gentile  and  Jew,  the  christian  and  heathen  —  the  passion 
of  the  torrid  mingles  in  the  veins  of  the  colder  zone ;  and, 
as  care  and  abandon,  shrewdness  and  diffidence,  cunning, 
deceit,  flattery,  vice,  course  with  honor,  integrity,  sobriety, 
industry,  patience  and  thrift  and  honesty — light  and 
gloom  —  so,  the  mass,  compound  of  all  nationalities,  pre- 
sents an  anomaly — behind  which  there  is  a  power  and 
might,  individually  invincible  and  collectively  invulner- 
able by  any  one  other  nationality.  The  result  is  a  cement- 
ing, in  fact,  of  the  theoretical  universal  brotherhood  —  and 
let  the  result  of  extension  and  universal  relationship  speak 
for  itself  on  its  fields  of  unparalleled  victories. 

"Our  country  was  founded  in  genius  —  the  genius  formed 
by  amalgamation  of  the  divers  nations,  and  the  genius 
consisting  of  the  spark  by  the  friction  of  the  several  parts 
of  adversity  —  hence,  the  means  of  swift  intelligence,  of 
retentive  reproducing  motive  power  —  God's  meteorite, 
God's  scintillator. 

Speak  not  in  softer  tone  but  thunderous  acclaim: 
Tli'  United  States  are  reared  to  mortals  free! 
Heed  not  a  drivelling  cant  but  speed  the  sweet  sesam', 
That  mortals  shall  not  bear  a  tyr'nt's  decree. 

"  One  of  its  first  steps  was  to  establish  a  proper  and 
perpetuating  form  of  government  —  and  upon  that  shortly 
followed  the  strife  for  power,  even  here  —  more  the  result 
of  the  teachings  of  the  preceding  perverse  ages,  than  the 
untrammeled  opinions  of  the  contestors. 

As  long  as  man  has  ambition, 

As  long  as  he  lias  life, 
So  long  there  will  be  attrition, 

Contumely  and  strife. 

"The  ebb  and  flow  of  party-life  would,  of  themselves,  be 
an    interesting    story ;     but     form    a    distinctive     feature. 


SOME  HISTORY  AS  IT  MIGHT  APPEAR.  75 

The  prevailing  policy,  throughout,  sought  the  principles 
underlying  present  necessities — those  of  security,  health, 
and  prosperity  —  hut  were  not  at  all  times  as  pure  in  their 
motives  and  measures. 

"To  these  ends  the  forests  were  cleared,  and  industries 
placed  in  progress;  and  all  the  enemies  of  this  onward 
march  were,  as  much  as  possible,  exterminated,  whether 
of  animal,  vegetable  or  human  life — the  renegade  and  the 
savage,  the  beast  of  prey  and  nature's  rank  and  briery 
growth,  the  usefulness  of  which  was  far  outmeasured  by 
its  incumbrances. 

"Out  of  pleasant  glens  and  cultivated  dales  the  curling 
smoke  of  forge,  factory  and  mill  was  wafted  over  the  hill- 
tops, and  here  and  there  some  far-visible  and  marking 
spire  pointed  to  a  place  where  grateful  hearts  could 
pour  out  their  spirit  of  appreciation  for  God's  manifest 
mercies;  and,  on  the  Sundays,  the  winding  paths,  still 
through  brush  and  often  forest,  leading  in  the  directions 
of  those  spires,  were  dotted  with  the  surrounding  inhabi- 
tants, wending  their  way  thereto. 

"  Through  the  dark  days  of  savage  onslaught  and  fearful 
attacks  of  wild  beasts,  of  the  treachery  of  brethren  and 
relentlessness  of  foe,  not  without  the  glorious  gleams  of 
self-sacrifice  and  of  heroism,  there  came  an  exaltation  over 
these  evils,  and  the  gloomy  difficulties  were  one  by  one 
surmounted  —  the  beasts  became  extinct,  or  decimated  in 
number,  the  savage  saw  his  tribe  disappear  forever,  and 
those  of  the  white  men  who  chose  the  hitter's  companion- 
ship and,  worse  than  either,  possessed  the  attributes  of 
both,  in  turn,  bit  the  dust,  as  a  reward  of  their  skulking, 
iniquitous  careers. 

"When  at  length  the  flint-rock  rusted  in  the  corner,  and 
the  woodman's  blows  resounded  less,  the  hum  of  the 
various  mills  and  the  trip  of  the   hammer  in  the   forge 


7G  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

were  beginning  to  tell  another  tale.  How  great  the 
changes,  yet  after  all  how  sad  the  realization!  It  matters 
not  whether,  the  cruel  bedizened  visage  and  leer  of  the 
savage,  in  the  midst  of  physical  plenty  chills  the  heart's 
blood  or  the  gaunt  stalk  of  poverty  and  starvation  menace 
the  victim. 

"Gradually  the  clearings  extended,  and  towns  and  cities 
sprung  up.  These  confines  gradually  reached  and 
engulfed  the  outposts  of  the  more  forward  and  intrepid 
settlers,  who,  in  turn,  proceeded  further  only  again  to  be 
overtaken. 

"As  the  thrift  and  enterprises  increased,  rivalries  arose 
and  unlovely  feelings  multiplied  with  the  grasping  multi- 
tude ;  so  that  at  this  time  caste  and  conditions,  craft  and 
enterprises,  combinations  and  resources,  all  have  their 
demarkations,  and  become  individually  menacing,  as  they 
are  favorably  discriminated  by  a  government,  which 
should  only  exercise  a  balance  of  power  between  its  prin- 
cipals, not  an  elevation  of  one  over  any  other. 

"The  vicious  seek  their  prey ;  the  indolent  disregard  their 
obligations;  the  thrifty  complain  and  with  cause;  the 
unworthy  seek,  like  parasites,  to  feed  and  enrich  at  the 
expense  of  others.  Rich  men,  too  rich  in  wealth's 
arduous  cares,  are  too  suspicious  in  regard  to  it  to  enjoy 
its  fruits;  poor  men  are  hateful  and  discouraged;  the 
unscrupulous,  ever  working  on  the  suspicions  and  fears  of 
either,  grasp  and  defraud  in  any  direction;  thus  civiliza- 
tion is  afflicted. 

"As  long  as  laziness  or  viciousness  infest  any  members  of 
a  community,  thus  so  long  will  tranquillity  be  impossible, 
and  suffering  will  ensue  to  everyone,  in  the  effort  for 
supremacy,  or  the  danger  of  oppression,  or,  even,  in  the 
care  of  bare  maintenance.  Thousands  upon  thousands, 
running  into  millions,  have   multiplied  in  our  country  — 


SOME  HISTORY  AS  IT  MIGIIT  APPEAR.  77 

the  asylum  for  the  world.  The  evil-doers,  banished,  have 
come  to  us;  the  distressed  have  sought  solace  here;  the 
enterprising,  most  of  them,  are  here ;  and  of  the  scum  of 
populations,  which  belong  everywhere  and  nowhere,  many 
have  been  thrust  upon  us,  as  well  as  drifted  this  way. 
This  is  a  board  for  every  game  of  life.  But,  we  are  best 
enabled  to  take  care  of  them — they  come  to  us  and  we  do 
the  rest ;  our  examples  and  free  institutions  have  produced 
more  good  population  from  these  outcasts  than  all  the  walled 
conventicles  that  ever  existed. 

"  We  produce  all  the  necessities  of  life,  and  many  of  the 
curatives  of  its  ills;  the  babe  may  be  swathed,  and  fed  — 
and  die  an  aged  sire,  enclosed  in  his  cloth-covered  casket, 
all  within  the  province  of  this  land.  Ay,  many  a  family 
that  has  scarcely  ever  gone  beyond  the  pales  of  a  back- 
woods farm  for  anything ! 

"  I  will  not  enumerate  its  products,  nor  dwell  on  the 
means  of  transportation  — animal  force  or  the  mystical 
power  of  vapor  or  fire  — nor  tell  how  thought  may  be  com- 
municated in  an  instant  of  time  to  great  extents;  all  this 
seems  incredible  to  you,  as  it  did  to  us  when  first 
broached — yet,  history  will  smile  at  our  incredulity. 

"  Much  of  this  you  have  not  yet  the  means  among  you, 
my  dear  colonists,  of  developing;  although,  lying  inherent 
in  your  rocks  and  soil,  as  well  as  within  yourselves,  the 
elements  are  present,  with  the  air,  the  water  and  the  fire. 
For  these  researches  you  require  developments  of  charac- 
ter and  of  resources,  for  which  your  mutual,  circum- 
scribed contact  is  not  enough.  You  may  be  happy,  well 
enough  off;  but,  must  you  not  use  that  placed  in  your 
charge  ? 

"The  people  of  the  United  States  dress,  and  there  is  a 
distinction  in  this  respect,  as  well  as  a  mark  for  the  sexes, 
substantially  conventional  among  them.     As  in  all  affairs 


78  TUE   TROUBLE    OF   LIVING  ALONE. 

of  the  world,  unfortunately,  a  few  lead  and  set  the  fashion, 
and  the  largely  unthinking  multitude  follow. 

"  There  is  no  individual  ingenuity,  no  regard  for  personal 
comfort  or  enjoyment.  Yet  to  the  items  of  their  cloth- 
ing more  time  is  devoted  than  to  many  things  that  are  ele- 
vating ;  and  much  trouble  is  entailed,  solely  to  excel 
thereby  someone  who  may  be  foolish  enough  to  feel  dis- 
tress on  account  of  imagined  inferiority. 

"Nothing  that  can  be  fabricated  on  earth  is  too  fine  to  give 
ease  and  adornment  to  the  human ;  no  food  or  drink  too 
delectable.  But,  when  the  Creator  of  all  sends  one  of  His 
leveling  influences  —  pestilence,  famine,  warfare,  or  any 
scourge  of  the  kind  —  then  the  vanity  of  vanities  disappears, 
and  the  real  necessities  are  found  few  and  not  oppresive. 

"  Still,  precious  stones  which  really  delight  by  their  glit- 
tering beauty,  and  charming  soft  raiment,  which  is  truly 
a  pleasure  to  the  beholder  and  wearer,  and  elegantly  con- 
structed abodes,  and  the  downy  couch,  and  pleasant 
vapors  and  odors,  and  entrancing,  lulling  sounds,  and  the 
delights  of  regalement,  and  of  passion,  are  possibilities, 
potentialities  of  our  mysterious  organization,  which  indeed 
carry  sadness  in  their  wake.  The  milk  and  the  honey  of 
our  existence  is  too  often  basely  employed,  gluttonously 
misused,  and  inequitably  shared. 

"The  farmer,  the  merchant,  the  manufacturer,  the  miner, 
the  carrier,  the  builder,  with  their  combinations  and  modifi- 
cations and  assistants,  constitute  the  busy  class  ;  to  which 
may  be  added  the  musieian,  the  artist,  the  author,  and  all 
those  who  administer  to  the  intellect,  or  whose  skill  and 
knowledge  contribute  to  the  maintenance  or  cure  of  our 
physical  bodies,  or  adjust  the  matters  of  our  mutual 
relationships. 

"Schools  are  maintained  and  well  distributed  and 
attended;  it  is  sought  to  inculcate  virtue  in    all    minds; 


SOME  HISTORY  A 8  IT  MIGHT  APPEAR.  79 

the  moans  of  informing  anyone  of  the  daily  occurrences 
are  quite  adequately  present.  Our  people  affect  the  vio- 
lent athletic  sports  ;  then  there  are  milder  games,  embrac- 
ing mental  calculation  and  physical  skill,  one  or  both,  in 
uneven  degrees;  also,  there  are  the  amusements  of  the 
passions,  emotions  and  inter-magnetic  influences  of  individ- 
uals in  society ;  and  the  contemplation  of  miniature,  or 
idealized  reproductions,  the  false  for  the  real,  or  reflections 
of  existence.  All  these  enter  properly  into  occupation 
and  would  not,  but  for  their  abuse,  disarrange  the  smooth 
even  conduct  of  affairs. 

"You  can  regulate  things,  but  not  men;  spirits,  like 
gases,  must  be  chastened  and  rarified  before  they  escape 
their  bad  odors.  But,  a  bright  light  shineth  not  but  in 
the  shade,  hence,  the  brilliance  caused  by  all  luminaries 
is  what  our  poor  nature  seems  to  be  unable  to  endure, 
even  in  mental  contemplation,  envy  and  jealousy  having 
their  seats'  therein.  Still,  we  axe  the  brightest  spots  in 
the  gloom,  here. 

"  Seventeen  institutions  comprise  the  affairs  of  men  and 
these  conglomerate  and  diversify  :  The  filial  relation.  The 
single  life  of  man  or  woman.  Conjugal  rights.  Parental 
demands.  Correlative  regards,  and  justice,  virtue  and 
humanity  between  fellow-beings,  mercy  and  the  attribute 
of  affinity  with  all  things.  Habits  of  industry.  Discern- 
ment, courage,  perseverance,  and  the  principles  of  adapta- 
tion. Instruction,  study  and  mutual  acquisition.  Defense, 
preparation  and  guard.  Inspiration,  the  guarding  of  men's 
affairs  and  the  relation  of  government,  the  delegation  of 
power  and  representation.  Interchange  of  values.  The 
accordance  of  corresponding  sustenance,  maintenance  and 
degree.  The  spiritual  aspect  and  the  instinct,  premonition 
and  direction  of  the  soul.  The  mental  development  and 
cordial  enfranchisement.     The  laws   of   nature.     Kepara- 


80  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  A L ONE. 

tion  of  or  adjustment  to  wrongs,  accident  and  dis- 
placement. And  a  corollary  including  honest  discovery, 
production  and  construction. 

"Beginning  with  National  administration — the  child 
upon  birth  finds  government,  the  last  shall  be  first  —  are 
found  the  proposing,  establishing  and  administering  powers, 
powers  within  a  power,  three  in  one.  The  Nation  pro- 
poses its  amalgamation,  its  delegation  establishes  its  decree 
and  their  functionaries  administer,  expatiating  upon  the 
necessity  of  government  or  the  advisability  of  coalition 
among  our  human  selves  — 

Justice  deals  when  mercy  fails, 
Filtering,  softening,  racking  deeds, 
Doing  acts  of  rigid  chore. 
Call  and  sough  then  when  it  rails, 
Cry  for  vengeance  when  it  quails; 
'Tis  not  trite  nor  of  details  — 
Justice  plain  and  pure  ! 

"Coming  down  to  a  vision  of  politics,  we  may  discern  in 
our  organization  the  public  and  domestic  relations.  As 
domesticity  resolved  itself  to  individual  division,  so  their 
relations  involved  and  evolved  a  polity.  A  system  sprung 
up,  and  abuses  attended  its  comity,  or  retarded  its 
completenient. 

"  The  domestic  relation  is  individual  propriety  embodying 
the  discreet  concern  with  the  affairs  of  all  others  and 
things  and  devout  contemplation  of  future  existence.  Out 
of  the  domestic  the  public  ministrations  rise,  being  the  spir- 
itual emanation  of  human  association — and  its  necessity. 

"  Regarding  the  disease  that  cankers  continuously  in  the 
open  and  hidden  sores  of  the  institutions  of  man,  many 
lose  heart,  fail  and  die — flowers  withered  by  a  sirocco's 
breath ! 

"Justice  is  encouragement  and  protection  to  all. 


SOME  HISTORY  AS  IT  MIGHT  APPEAR.  81 

"The  producer,  the  delver,  the  artificer,  the  trafficker;  the 
promoter,  adjuster,  applier  and  instructor  —  all  their  fruits 
are  gathered  and  garnered  in  the  store-house  of  govern- 
mental regulation.  But  when  regulations  disturb  this 
equilibrium  —  when  organization  upon  organization,  and 
within  the  body  whole,  create  themselves  —  the  cancers 
and  tumors  of  the  physical  body,  that  so  far  separate 
themselves  from  the  remaining  organization  as  to  consti- 
tute localities  and  developments  of  themselves,  and  yet 
must  and  do  retain  their  connections  with  the  whole 
organism  for  their  maintenance  —  foreign  in  every  re  qui- 
site  and  desire,  and  the  worst  kind  of  enemy,  because  inter- 
nal, familiar  and  devastating  in  every  direction  —  then 
accreting  evils  manifest  themselves.  The  wheels  of 
industry,  in  our  country,  when  I  left,  were  clogged  by  dis- 
honesty, dissipation,  the  desire  for  luxury  and  ambition 
for  personal  splendor  or  power ;  and  the  consecpient  wan- 
ton speculations  by  means  of  trusts  and  monopolies — in 
short,  those  diseases  which  drain  and  contaminate  the 
whole,  being  anomalous  in  absorbing  all  the  foreign  nutri- 
ment that  is  necessary  and  given  to  the  body,  and  becom- 
ing themselves  abnormal  and  diseased  from  over-indulgence 
besides  withering  the  rest  of  the  body  from  want  of  sus- 
tenance. What  body  can,  exclusively,  sustain  itself? 
What  internal  disease  can  avoid  communicating  its  ill  to 
the  whole  body  ?  How  can  you  long  bruise  one  or  more 
parts  without  engendering  a  destructive  disease  there? 
In  the  absence  of  these,  personal  management  would  result 
in  successful  commerce  with  the  whole  world  —  and  com- 
petition from  any  source  but  stimulates  excellence. 

"Thus  far  the  government  has  done  much  to  classify  the 
people,  if  not  equally  as  much  as  they  have  themselves. 
Yes,  you  say,  they  govern  themselves.  True,  and  it  is 
with  mismanagement  or  rather  lack  of  diligence,  that  we 


82  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

charge    them  —  that   they    have    allowed   their   affairs    to 

drift  toward  the  conditions  and  under  the  control  of  those 

powers  to  rid  themselves  of  which  ages  have  violently 

battled — our  ancestors   have    bled   and    died — by  which 

peoples  have  been  crushed  or  enslaved — those  of  mighty 

but  selfish  rulers,  and  of  self-eating  monopolies. 

"  See  the  folly  of  submission,  and  behold  the  potencies 
for  evil! 

Unthinking,  heedless,  doomful  throng, 

With  minds  kept  weak  when  exercise  makes  strong! 

A  few  to  cause  intimidation's  fear, 

Intrepid  reft  allow  your  course  to  veer ; 

Shame  on  all  valor  and  your  hardy  frame, 

Fie,  that  your  ardor  be  not  more  aflame  ! 

"Private  life,  so  called,  consists  of  its  various  walks, 
avocations  and  indulgences.  Yet  the  solid,  cognizant  facts 
of  discoveries,  occurrences,  achievements,  wonders,  ocu- 
larly and  auricularly  demonstrated  existences  and  perhaps 
some  probabilities  and  possibilities,  with  inspiration,  are 
the  nucleus  of  education,  which  concerns  itself  thereby 
with  the  transmission  of  narrative,  perpetuation  of  facile 
intercommunication  and  the  developments.  The  begin- 
ning is  the  initiation  into  the  mysteries  of  and  is  aggra- 
vated by  the  interminable  conglomeration  of  the  characters 
of  human  modes  and  methods.  The  learning  is  of  convo- 
lutions in  human  antagonisms  and  struggling  to  acquire 
the  methods  of  calculation  in  vogue  to  appease  nature  in 
achieving  over  fellow-men,  which  seems  to  be  the  main  end 
taught,  the  conscience  is  only  impressed  by  the  omnipo- 
tence of  the  Creator,  who  manifests  the  meager  mandates 
and  callings  of  wisdom  rendered  useful  by  men.  How 
subtle  are  men's  intrusions  in  the  aspect  of  their 
iniquities ! 


SOME  HISTORY  AS  IT  MIGHT  APPEAR.  83 

Man's  glory  makes  good  spirits  merely  mourn ; 
He  flaunts  vouchsafements  to  the  dreary  winds 
And  bids  another  trust  to  his  vain  boasts ; 
The  breezes,  even,  sigh  their  spirits'  woes. 
Vain  creature  not  a  ruler  over  passion's  self 
Nor  trustworthy  when  storms  take  their  own  rise 
Within  his  mantled  bosom's  own  turmoil: 
But  cries  to  God,  the  searcher  of  his  ways, 
And  lies  unmantled  at  his  mercy's  feet ! 

"  You  have  here  begun,  and  yours  is  solely,  a  history  of 
the  people.  Continue  the  full,  complete,  connected  narra- 
tive in  that  unbiased  strain,  giving  your  servants  —  which 
other  nations  call  rulers  — due  meed,  and  no  one  can 
doubt  the  accuracy  of  it  nor  dispute  the  unfaltering  bene- 
fit from  such  an  institution.  Precedent  will  then  estab- 
lish the  right. 

"Without  having  designated  the  conditions  or  mani- 
fested details,  a  tedium  in  one  sense,  yet  a  joy  at  the 
ample  resource  for  employment  to  everyone,  logically  the 
world  is  not  burdensome.  Industrious,  systematical  appli- 
cation with  intermediate  and  ulterior  purposes  of  legiti- 
mate endeavors  will  reach  to  the  evening  of  final  rest  and 
make  death  not  what  it  is  now  but  the  hour  of  sweet 
repose. 

"  It  is  apparent  that  my  old  country  needs  a  thorough 
investigation  into  its  affairs  —  a  commission  to  be  as  par- 
ticularly and  regularly  appointed  as  the  taking  of  its 
census.  Thorough  men  of  science  and  knowledge  would 
devote  themselves  to  the  task  with  full  powers  and 
develop  the  means  of  much  redress  simply  by  the  inform- 
ation they  would  disclose.  Without  remuneration  there- 
for excepting  the  distinction  and  the  value  of  the 
knowledge  to  themselves  as  eminent  men  and  citizens 
their  appointment  would  be   universally  hailed  and  the 


84  TUE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

historical  knowledge  obtained  and  thereafter  maintained 
by  systematical  continuance  would  be  invaluable.  Nothing 
can  exceed  in  benefit  authentic  contemporary  history! 
Knowledge  leads  to  wisdom,  advancement,  exaltation  and 
the  suppression  of  evil ;  an  authentic  report  to  and  con- 
necting link  with  is  the  hope  of  posterity. 

"  I  thank  you,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  for  your  kind 
attention  —  not  that  one-half  has  been  told  you,  but 
enough  for  reflection,  and  I  fear  .to  impose  myself  too 
much  upon  you." 

Bowing,  I  withdrew  to  one  side.  The  applause  and 
fervent,  hearty  expressions  of  pleasure  and  satisfaction 
put  at  rest  any  apprehensions,  wrapt  as  I  had  become  in 
the  subject  as  I  progressed,  I  might  have  felt  regarding 
any  undue  infliction  upon  them.  I  cast  a  look  in  the 
direction  of  Kathleen  —  but  she  sat  pensively  gazing  into 
abstraction,  her  mind  undoubtedly  Avandering  far,  far 
away,  in  that  imagined,  strange  country.  Was  I  associ- 
ated in  those  reveries  ? 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

AX    INDUSTRIAL    RESUME. 

First  is  power   of   the    mechanics,    second  resume,    third 

production's  chose. 
When   thought  and   impulse   had   full-coursed    their 

way, 
There  stole  upon  the  horizon  the  dawn  of  day, 
In    swift   pursuit;    and  noise    of  click  and  clangor's 

sound, 
As,  pending  the  burst  storm,  broke  forth  in  tones, 
There  rose  the  din,  betokening  urgent  toil, 
And  sharp  endeavor,  seeking  every  spoil. 


AN  INDUSTRIAL  RESUME.  85 

Nor  is  content  the  science'  searching  ray,  as,  on  its  bent, 
it  seeks  each  nook. 
There  may  lie  hidden  as  the  simplest  thing 
And  this  it  kens,  hence  often  its  guy  fling 
As  it  discerns  some  mystery  scarce  unveiled, 
That  its  queer  shape  had  nought  to  stem  a  hope, 
But,  all  of  knowledge  need  not  foil  the  stool, 
If  its  receiver  will  be  ne'er  the  fool. 

How  soars  its  flight,  how   sinks  its  feeling  touch  down 
to  the  inmost  depths ! 
There  is  no  vision  but  with  lucid  points, 
And  no  reflection,  that  has  not  its  joints; 
Hence,  can  it  pause,  or  hesitate  to  do, 
Or  can  it  cease  to  jostle  error's  ways? 
What  false  excitement,  superstition's  fear  — 
~No  creed  is  happier,  than  has  its  own  seer ! 

The  millions  teemed,  the  millions  swore   their   constant, 
firm  behest! 
Ah,  for  the  night,  to  solace  in  its  gloom, 
To  see,  with  no  distraction,  whate'er  doom 
Can  solve  this  speedy,  scant,  industrial  range, 
To  give  invention  to  its  risks  and  grasps, 
On,  to  lead  forwrard,  ever,  stern  and  true, 
Oft,  that  trends  froward  to  make,  sadly,  rne. 

There  is  no  doubt,  the  visions   will   reward  the   worthy, 
kind  and  pure. 
That  such  a  scoffer  was  on  genius  bent, 
And,  in  his  fruits,  was,  pitifully,  shent, 
Creeds  but  the  laws  of  any  universe ; 
One  thought,  one  sigh  cannot  be  lost  to  ane. 
Have  you  no  wisdom  as  to  teach  the  lore, 
That  in  pure  genius  can  be  any  chlore  ? 

This  circumvision,  spection  is  unending,  great  and   very 
fair. 
The  hand  may  tremble,  yet  devise  a  stay, 
The  arm  be  feeble,  that  constructs  the  sway, 
By  part  to  part,  to  shake  the  fundament : 
The  spirit,  Spirit  is  the  power  unseen, 
The  all,  invisible,  unseen  the  strength  of  might. 
Thus,  Faith  is  for  yourself,  Hope  to  the  other, 
And  Charity  with  all,  that  none  can  bother. 


86  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

When  you  lead  on,  devise  the    ways    as    sternly,   yet   as 
meet,  as  e'er  you  may. 
There  cannot  be  conjectured,  nor  construed, 
A  single  problem,  other  than  for  good ! 
Contend  you  this  endeavor  then,  or  fear, 
That  you  have  nought  the  power  to  endure? 
Stringe  to  the  lists,  and  see  that  you  were  born 
To  win  as  bright  a  pennant,  e'er  was  torn. 

A  loosely  garment,  red,  and  dight  all  o'er  a  supple  female 
form  — ■ 
Suggests  the  more,  of  ignorance  within, 
That  drives  desire  frenzied  with  chagrin. 
This  heed  e'er  fastens  to  temptation's  chore, 
That  aught  appears  to  waken  your  distrust : 
Be  you,  then,  wary,  pierce  the  folds,  that  hide, 
With  your  reflections,  which,  always,  betide. 

Ah,  glossy  raven  tresses,  garb  of  crimson  hue  and  lightly 
dight,  and  face  so  white  — 
Is  that  not  all-inflaming,  fire  and  coal  ? 
Thus  eats  luridity  into  the  soul ! 
And  may  the  deadening  ashes  semble  face, 
Which  first  portrayed  the  white  flames  of  the  fire  : 
For,  soon,  a  withering,  commonplace  disgust 
Will,  then,  have  met  the  lolly  with  its  thrust. 

How  they,  the  picturing  words,  set  forth  each  thing,  each 
crevice,  any  thought  of  ane. 
You  may  make  no  remark,  yet,  e'er  so  rude, 
But,  beautifully,  fits  a  truth,  not  crude, 
But  forms  a  text,  as  ever,  just  and  trite, 
And  suits  employment,  such  as  always  right; 
For,  in  directness  there  is,  always,  good  : 
And  must,  with  knowledge,  be  so  understood. 

The  timely  application  robs  each  and  every  deed  of  its 
seemed  crime. 
But  virtue,  truth  itself,  may  be  abused, 
If,  in  their  acts,  not  properly  are  used. 
Then,  drivel  not  in  cant,  affected  tears  — 
There's    nought    so    bad    but    augments    with    your 

fears ; 
There's  nothing  good,  that  may  not  be  mistaken : 
And  everything  is  fair,  that's  not  forsaken ! 


AN  INDUSTRIAL  RESUME.  87 

And  language  cannot  err,  like  figure  bold,  speaks  but  one 
thing. 
Infallible,  to  so  diverge  from  truthful  says, 
Built  course  on  course,  in  ways  with  reaching  ways, 
It  has,  but  properly,  the  forced  sequence  — 
One  way  begun,  can  never  digress  hence, 
But  must  add  on  the  solvents,  tricks  and  throws, 
Becomingly,  and  justly  onward  goes. 

What  makes  the  seeming  error  of  one's  ways,  are  not  the 
ways  themselves. 
But,  choice,  or  disconnections  we  do  make ; 
The  ways  can,  by  themselves,  you  surely  take, 
If  you  but  heed  the  foresight  to  go  on, 
And,  by  no  folly,  be  led  off  your  course: 
This  logic,  then,  is  truly  God's  device, 
That  every  soul  may,  savingly,  take  choice. 

All    conscience,    instincts,    natural   inclinations    point    to 
sense. 
That  is,  to  wise  endeavors  and  good  choice, 
And,  for  restraints,  each  owns  a  strong  device. 
There  is,  so  little,  that  can  justify, 
Where  wanton  notions  fritter,  here  and  there, 
That  judgment,  soon,  would  cause  a  vile  duress 
Did  mercy  plead  not  for  the  foul  weakness. 

But,  brightness  of  this  world,  forever,  fades  —  of  what,  or 
where,  or  when ! 
The  thought,  this  moment  brilliant,  loses  cast, 
To  the  own  thinker,  when  a  moment  past ; 
And,  leading,  then,  remembrance  o'er  the  scene, 
Has  learned  a  different  moral  by  the  preen. 
Oh,  fadeless  things  we  must  not,  here,  esteem  — 
If  nothing  else,  our  memories  will  so  gleam. 

This  latter  proposition  is  not  true,  nay,  it  is  cant. 
The  estimation,  weakly,  so  regards ; 
For,  diligent  knowledge  this  sore  evil  wards : 
There  is  in  every  course  a  natural  swing, 
And  is,  as  naturally,  true  to  cause, 
That  you  have  but  to  reck  the  onward  course, 
To  learn  eventration  to  each  source. 

The  fleeting  time,  the  days  that  are  no  more,  the  years 
now  past ! 


88  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Yet,  busily,  the  hum  of  thrift  goes  on. 
The  seasons  waken,  each,  in  several  turn  — 
The  seed-time,  freshly,  starts  its  new-born  life, 
The  earnest  harvest  yielding  its  fit  fruits ; 
Then,  rest,  deep  silence,  save  the  storm,  that  roars, 
To  make  more  comfort  garnered  peace  indoors. 

The   year   has    been    divided,    fitting   to   man's  state,    in 
miniature. 
First,  weakly  born  (within  the  first  few  months 
In,  deeply,  then  but  slow  from  winter's  slumps) 
At  once  burst  forth  to  vigor's  budding  (Spring), 
Whence,  then,  unfolding,  such  the  fecund  seeds, 
The  sterling  manhood  reaches  harvest-time  — 
Ends  like  beginning :  Now  must  rhyme,  rime ! 

What  nature  has  supplied,  man  turns  to  thrifty,  cautious 
use. 
There  are  embodied  in  calm  nature's  stores 
Such  force  and  powers,  that  it  fairly  pours 
The  bounties  on  the  self -thralled  style  of  man ; 
How  charily,»in  ignorance,  man  does  touch ! 
More  offers  nature,  than  would  grant  his  bliss  — 
He  has  some  inkling,  got  from  that  and  this. 

One  little  atom  serves  a  part,  tends  to  sustain  a  ponderous 
mass. 
Thus,  powers,  spirits,  turned  ever  loose 
From  every  finger-tip,  from  mind,  abstruse, 
Dissolve  and  emanate,  perpetuate  and  make 
In  multiples  on  multiples,  till  all  parts  quake. 
Thus  is  the  stream  of  increase  ne'er  t'  be  stemmed, 
For  this  is  nature's  benefit  not  to  be  hemmed. 

The    untold   cogent   factors,    the    unnamed    potents    and 
designs ! 
Pure  industry  is  ne'er  without  its  means ; 
Is  never,  that  its  thrift,  but  that  it  gleans, 
If  nothing  else,  the  some  strewn  remnants  left, 
That  may  heap  storehouse  to  its  margin's  fill ; 
Then,  comes  a  rest,  a  peaceful  slumber-time, 
Now,  termed  a  death  —  then,  will  be  sweet  in  chime. 

The  middle  course,  the  medium,  the  steady  and  the  mix. 
That  is  the  range,  which  serves  the  steady  will, 
Restrains,  but  grants  in  each  way  to  distill, 


AN  INDUSTRIAL  RESUME.  89 

Upholds  the  burden,  ends  must  bear  the  brunt, 
Is  there,  in  equilibrium  when  borne: 
Thus,  to  all  cares,  the  mediums  solace  tears ; 
In  all  affairs  the  mediums  serve  the  shares. 

Old    gaunt   Philosophy  stalked,   once,  so  solemnwise  and 
dreadful,  shrewd. 
He  says,  says  he,  "  This  is  a  sorry  fix ! 
'Tis  ages  since  I  saw  much  worse  a  mix. 
Why,  bless  the  long-time  lasting,  glittering  stars, 
The  sun  and  moon,  and  slivering  earth-quaked  hills, 
I've  pranced  on  planes  until  I'm  wellnigh  dead  — 
But,  die  I  may  not,  so  the  ancients  said. 

What   things  would   you,    now,    choose    my    fellow    fine; 
there,  my  sweet  maid  ? 
No  ?     Hang  your  head  —  your  modesty's  afraid 
To  speak  out  in  the  meeting — where,  'tis  said, 
So  many  little  children  have  found  fault  ? 
At  this  I'm  not  surprised,  though  I  have  said, 
When  you  are  bent  on  mischief,  read  a  line, 
And  leave  your  mischief  bent  to  fit  your  spine. 

Well,  I  have    wondered,    when  patrolling,  late  at  night, 
through  many  a  storm. 
The  storm  of  fears,  and  tears  and  troubled  hearts, 
The  violent  commotions,  renting  parts 
In  anguish,  at  some  pale,  mistaken  foe. 
Now  brethren,  let  me  tell  you,  there's  no  woe. 
'  Look  to,  look  to,'  the  ancients  often  said, 
And  this,  I  now  repeat,  was  then  well-bred. 

I  wish,  my  dearest,  you  had  always  better  understood. 
There  is  in  eduction,  construction,  production 
The  best  of  concoction,  that  favors  induction ; 
When   once   you   have    instanced    the    thought    and 

endeavor, 
You  will  have  discovered  the  powerful  lever. 
In  action,  reflection  the  deeds  serve  and  prove  ; 
In  interchange,  intervail  all  objects  move." 


90  THE    TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


SHIP    AHOY! 


For  some  time  a  question  had  agitated  itself  in  our 
midst,  with  reference  to  the  possible  existence  of  other 
lands  within  our  reach,  if  our  craft  hut  enabled  us  to  make 
tours  of  discovery  beyond  our  shores.  In  nautical  and 
astronomical  knowledge,  that  would  make  us  successful 
voyagers  or  guide  us  in  any  positive  direction  or  return, 
we  were  sadly  deficient;  and  once  out  on  the  trackless 
main,  we  doubted  our  abilities  to  return;  besides,  almost 
every  other  consideration  was  obviated  by  our  want  of 
tools  wherewith  to  construct  a  vessel  of  sufficient  size. 

Still,  from  desultory  discussions,  the  idea  had  grown 
that  my  whilom  ship  might  be  launched;  she  was  not 
badly  wedged,  apparently  not  much  broken,  and,  although 
stranded  by  an  unusual  storm,  fortunately  had  been  en- 
sconced in  a  comparatively  safe  and  protected  harbor  dur- 
ing her  five  years  of  desuetude,  and  the  appliances  on  board 
presented  every  possibility  of  her  restoration  to  usefulness. 
It  was  thought,  with  our  full  male  strength  and  the 
mechanisms  our  combined  ingenuity  might  devise,  we 
might  yet  proudly  patrol  the  high  seas  in  her.  So  that 
one  evening  the  project  was  decided  upon,  and  with  a  good 
deal  of  excitement  it  was  determined  to  prepare  at  once 
for  our  intended  experiment.  The  necessary  crops  being 
garnered  or  safely  under  way,  to  abide  our  return  within 
such  a  reasonable  time  as  we  anticipated,  all  else  could  be 
looked  after  easily  by  the  women. 

Two  weeks  were    consumed   in   preparations.     Enough 


SHIP  AHOY!  91 

rowing,  pushing  or  towing  craft  were  rudely  constructed, 
in  addition  to  the  two  or  three  boats  on  hand,  to  consti- 
tute a  small  fleet.  We  had  simply  to  follow  the  shore-line 
and  in  a  direction  we  knew  to  reach  the  location  of  the 
ship,  and  felt  no  concern  in  that  quarter ;  and,  as  to  pro- 
visions, knew  that  the  net  and  trap  would  over  night  sup- 
ply us  at  any  time,  if  necessary,  in  addition  to  the  stock 
distributed  in  the  boats. 

The  fervor  with  which  I  pressed  Kathleen's  hand  at 
parting  might  have  betokened  something  unusual,  but  I 
had  no  misgivings,  for  I  felt  cheerfully  convinced  of  the 
success  of  our  expedition  and  a  speedy  safe  return,  already 
dreaming  of  future  discoveries  in  the  following  spring, 
and  imagining  myself  an  explorer  !  There  was  of  course, 
no  melancholy  brass  band  —  although  later,  when  the  instru- 
ments were  resurrected  from  the  ship,  their  music  became 
no  unpleasant  feature  of  our  life  here.  There  was  not  even 
speech-making ;  but,  with  emotion  at  the  agitation  of  those 
remaining  behind,  many  a  wave  of  the  hand  beckoned  the 
last  token  before  dropping  out  of  sight. 

The  weather  being  fine  and  our  expedition  uneventful, 
on  the  sixth  of  October  we  hove  in  sight  of  my  old  quar- 
ters, and  it  was  with  feelings  of  pride  and  joy,  that  I  wel- 
comed the  sight  of  the  old  hulk.  There  she  was,  safe  and 
sound,  and  seemed  quietly  to  indicate  that  her  days  of  use- 
fulness were  not  yet  over,  by  a  great  deal.  The  curiosity 
with  which  she  was  viewed  by  the  party,  and  their 
careful  inspection,  were  an  inspiration  to  behold! 
My  land  abode  had  not  suffered  and  my  gardens  were 
only  overgrown.  I  felt  like  a  lord  in  his  own  domain, 
and  entertained  with  a  lavish  disregard  and  graciousness 
by  reason  of  my  great  possessions.  A  poor  boy  of  humble 
origin  arisen  to  such  splendor  and  prestige — but,  that  is 
American! 


92  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

We  proceeded  at  once  to  our  object  here,  and  worked 
like  bees  or  beavers,  incessantly  but  systematically. 

By  a  kind  Providence,  as  it  were,  I  found  a  volume  on 
ship-building,  repairing,  and  so  forth,  and  one  relating  to 
ship-machinery,  among  the  late  captain's  effects —  and  I  felt 
devoutly  thankful,  for  these  volumes  were  worth  to  us 
more  than  a  continent  of  gold. 

After  ten  days'  labor  our  ship  rode  once  more  on  the  sea, 
and  hoisting  the  bonny  Stars  and  Stripes  to  its  position  of 
honor  and  predominance,  I  proposed  three  cheers,  with  the 
tears  trickling  down  my  weather-beaten  cheeks,  for  the 
dear  old  flag  and  the  sentiments  it  represents  and  protects, 
which  were  heartily,  rousingly  given!  Those  English 
bodies  had  an  American  spirit.  Untrainmeled  nature 
conforms  to  the  natural.  How  many  disloyal  ones 
at  home  would  not  have  marveled  at  the  loyalty  and 
spirit  in  the  country's  behalf,  far  and  almost  hopelessly 
away ! 

That  night  we  slept  on  the  water  in  well-ordered  cabins 
and  bunks.  Early  next  morning  everyone  was  astir  and 
the  deck  was  cleared  for  action.  The  excitement  and 
enthusiasm  increased  with  every  hour.  I  was  commodore 
of  the  fleet,  captain  of  my  vessel,  engineer  and  master 
machinist.  The  other  principal  duties  were  appropriately 
distributed.  Old  John  Bertram,  the  sound,  steady,  level- 
headed man,  was  placed  at  the  helm,  and  the  genial,  yet  if 
need  be  forcible,  old  Silas  Mason  placed  second  in  command, 
which  put  him,  virtually,  in  direction  above,  as  I  remained 
with  the  engines.  In  the  control  of  these,  although  a  novice 
myself,  still  with  some  general  comprehension  by  reason 
of  my  daily  contact,  at  home,  with  machinery,  I  was  fast 
initiating  the  quick-witted  Phineas  Bertram  (Kathleen's 
elder  brother)  who  rapidly  demonstrated  a  decided  ability 
and  inclination  that  way.     If  there  is  any  difference  and 


SHIP  AHOY!  93 

distinction,  what  is  more  responsible  than  the  function 
that  administers  and  superintends  the  pulsations  of  the 
heart  —  the  motive  power  and  its  envelopes  of  machinery 
and  life  !  A  book  on  engines  had  received  my  attentive 
and  anxious  perusal,  and  lay  near  at  hand,  with  the  places 
of  its  salient  points  duly  marked;  and  never  was  a  quan- 
tity of  combustibles  ignited  with  greater  throbbing  of  the 
heart  than  I  endured,  when  I  built  my  first  fire  in  the  box 
to  heat  the  boiler.  And  how  anxiously  I  awaited  prog- 
ress, minutes  becoming  hours,  and  how  every  thump  and 
thud  startled  me,  as  evidences  of  unforeseen  or  hidden 
danger ;  how  my  text-book  was  reviewed  and  myself 
assured  and  reassured,  and  then  —  at  last  —  I  nearly 
swallowed  myself  in  my  anxiety  —  the  steam  began  to 
exert  its  actions  and  the  great  and  powerful  machinery 
moved — oiled  and  wiped  and  brushed,  it  proceeded 
smoothly  enough.  With  special  messenger  hastened  to 
the  helmsman  to  be  on  his  utmost  guard,  besides  the  cus- 
tomary or  agreed  upon  mechanical  signals,  the  great  con- 
cern began  to  move.  Carefully  and  skillfully  controlled 
by  John  Bertram,  she  pointed  her  prow  and  took  her 
direction.  As  night  approached  we  anchored,  placed  lights 
out,  instituted  successions  of  watch  (the  machinery,  in 
our  opinions,  or  rather  mine,  needed  watching)  and,  after  a 
merry  evening  of  mutual  congratulations  and  toasts,  sought 
repose,  fatigued  mentally  and  physically,  and  unstrung  now 
that  the  reaction  from  great  strain  had  set  in. 

Fortunately,  our  stock  of  coal  was  still  large  ;  and  I 
learned  that  "black  stuff  like  this"  could  be  obtained 
a  distance  back  and  carried  down  a  stream,  that  emptied 
not  far  from  where  the  colony  had  their  abodes,  which 
embouchure  also  afforded  a  harbor,  beautiful,  picturesque 
and  protected.  So  that  cheerful  prospects,  all  around, 
emerged  from  the  recent  gloom. 


94  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

The  spirit  of  gratitude  moved  within  me,  and  I  humbly 
prayed  and  gave  thanks. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

TOGETHER    AGAIN ! 

We  cruised  very  leisurely.  Anchoring  at  night,  and 
with  daily  incursions  on  land,  we  trapped,  fished  and 
gathered  quantities  of  wild  fruits,  nuts  and  berries ;  I  had 
inculcated  the  practices  of  drying,  smoking  and  curing, 
salting,  preserving  and  canning;  with  salt,  sugar  and 
condiments  in  ample  store  on  board,  we  were  preparing 
quite  a  stock  of  winter-supplies  —  more  than  thrice  ample 
for  our  consumption  and,  in  quality,  what  a  choice ! 

The  weather  was  delightful  all  the  time,  a  sort  of 
Indian-summer;  a  merrier,  more  genial  group  could  not 
have  been  found.  I  enlivened  many  an  evening  hour, 
when  the  spirits  of  these  benign  days  seemed  to  vie  with 
the  occasion,  with  my  violin-playing,  which  delighted,  as 
well  as  mystified  them  not  a  little  ;  and  those  plaintive, 
sighing  or  rollicking  tones,  how  they  have  strangely 
broken  in  upon  the  lone,  weird  wilderness.  How  often, 
poured  from  the  inmost  depths  of  my  heart,  they  have 
recorded  there  in  indelible  spirit-tongue  the  expression  of 
my  recollections  of  bygone  scenes,  thoughts  and  passionate 
longings  —  at  such  moments  my  abstraction,  Begeisterungf 
was  incomprehensible  to  them.  Almost  awed  by  my 
appearance  of  oblivious  absence  with  the  fascinating 
Wehmuth  of  my  executed  tones,  they  said  that  at  such  a 
time  I  communicated  with  some  invisible,  visiting  spirit  — 
and,  who  knows,  the  spirit  and  chimes  of  music,  perhaps. 

We  had  timed  it  so  that  we  should  reach  home  after 


TOGETHER  AGAIN!  95 

nightfall,  with  the  vessel  full-rigged  and  decorated,  yards 
manned,  and  so  forth,  and  all  brilliantly  alight,  and 
whistles  sounding.  The  effect  of  such  a  sound  and  sight, 
suddenly  imposed  upon  our  unsuspecting  dear  ones, 
together  with  the  novelty  thereof,  we  could  readily  pic- 
ture to  ourselves.  A  projection  of  the  shore,  several  miles 
distant,  hid  our  approach,  where  lying  until  the  shades 
began  to  settle  and  preparing  our  little  piece  of  pleasantry, 
we  then  steamed  down  upon  the  unsuspecting,  defenseless 
little  throng,  who  were,  no  doubt,  straining  every  auric- 
ular nerve  to  catch  the  first  sound  of  our  safe  return. 

Giving  vent  to  all  the  power  of  the  shrieking,  scream- 
ing, whistling  pipes  and  the  deep,  horrible  soundings  of 
the  fog-horn  —  imagine  the  consternation  of  these  women 
and  children,  at  these  demoniacal  renditions  and  at  the 
appearance  of  the  glaring,  looming  yet  beautiful  apparition ! 

Knowing  the  water  to  be  very  deep  close  to  the  rock- 
bank  of  the  shore,  we  ran  alongside,  anchored  and  ran  out 
the  gang-plank.  Acting  Captain  Mason,  swinging  a  lan- 
tern, passed  over  to  land  —  all  of  the  others  remaining  and 
standing  in  a  blaze  of  light  on  deck  —  and,  inviting  all  on 
shore  to  follow  him,  preceded  and  lighted  them  on  board; 
eagerly  and  confidently  following  him,  mutually  joyful 
interchanges  of  greetings  followed.  I  was  the  only  one 
not  present  there  at  that  moment,  being  still  engaged 
below  with  the  management  of  the  engine.  I  was  after- 
ward told  by  a  humorously  inclined,  quick-witted  old  chap, 
that  Kathleen  peered  about  for  me! 

But  the  "  captain "  of  the  vessel  received  his  due  share 
of  homage  and  consideration,  when  he  did  appear.  Headed 
by  my  assistant  engineer  and  fireman,  the  whole  group, 
excepting  myself  and  two  or  three  of  the  elderly  men, 
paraded  the  vessel,  from  lookout  to  steerage,  and  the 
excitement,  amazement  and  curiosity  were  edifying.     My 


9G  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

lively,  witty  assistant  was  quite  equal  to  the  showers 
of  inquiries  shot  out. 

At  the  last,  the  doors  were  thrown  open,  and  they  were 
ushered  into  their  first  taste  of  artificial  elegance  —  the 
beautifully  lighted,  and  magnificent  dining-room,  where  a 
banquet  had  been  spread  in  anticipation  of  the  happy 
event  and  midnight  festivities,  with  all  the  marvels  of 
glass  and  china  and  silver  service,  fine  cloths,  brilliant 
illumination  in  gorgeous  holders,  including  incandescent 
electrical  lights,  all  these  things  so  "heavenly"  to  them. 

I  presided,  upon  solicitation  from  all,  with  Kathleen  at 
my  side  —  as  happy  as  a  king,  and,  to  all  virtuous  intents, 
the  same  as  one. 

And  on  the  serenity  of  that  still  night  with  no  sound,  save 
the  note  of  a  nightingale,  and  the  murmur  of  the  incessant 
tireless  breakers,  anon  broke  peals  of  laughter  from  within; 
and,  if  the  memories  of  departed,  who  had  occupied  seats 
herein  in  life,  occurred  to  me  or  suggested  themselves  to 
anyone,  yet  the  waves  of  reflections  or  sadness  must  soon 
have  vanished. 

I  looked  at  Kathleen  and  thought  what  an  auspicious 
time  this  would  be  for  a  betrothal.  But,  Kathleen  did  not 
yet  seem,  to  my  tutored  mind,  to  understand  what  it 
means  to  love,  hence  I  looked  at  her  with  a  mixed  feeling 
of  chagrin  and  despair  —  but  a  silvery  rim  forever  appears 
on  the  heavy  clouds  of  the  future,  and  a  bound  within  my 
bosom  bespoke  happy  things  to  occur  — yet,  a  tinge  of 
melancholy  marked  the  terrestrial  aspect. 


THE  SCHOOL-MASTER  MAKES  A  SPEECH.  97 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    SCHOOL-MASTER    MAKES    AN    IMPROMPTU    SPEECH. 

Shortly  after  midnight,  Mr.  Talbot,  the  teacher  of  the 
school,  arose,  setting  down  his  bumper,  cleared  his 
throat,  and  said  that  upon  so  important  an  occasion,  one 
that  marked  a  new  era  in  their  lives,  he  felt  he  had  some- 
thing to  say — and,  with  impressive  mien,  proceeded: 

"Brethren  and  fellow-merrymakers,  it  is  with  a  deep 
appreciation  and  consciousness  of  the  proprieties,  as  well 
as  the  unusualness  of  this  occasion,  that  I  perceive  its 
import  as  well  as  direction. 

"  Lingering,  all  our  days,  on  the  verge,  on  the  borders 
of  civilization,  it  is  but  recently,  that  we  have  received  an 
inkling  of  the  possibilities  of  man,  which  lie  dormant  even 
within  us.  We  have  now  the  first  great  direct  evidences 
of  his  accomplishments  —  still  regarded  only  as  experi- 
ments by  their  authors. 

"Our  immediate  progenitors  emanated  from  that  dawning 
civilization  but  were  snatched  from  it  and  separated  here 
by  the  elements,  when  their  lives  were  to  blossom  into  its 
fullest  realization.  But  they  have  reared  us  to  its  standard 
by  account,  example  and  we  have  maintained  the  same  as 
nearly  as  tradition  has  enabled  us.  We  have  heard  their 
words  and  regrets,  cherish  their  dearest  memories  and  at 
peace  their  resting  place  is  as  quiet  and  rest  as  tranquil  as 
anywhere  on  earth. 

"  What  is  our  condition  or  what  was  it,  when  Almighty 
God  sent  this  our  friend  into  our  midst,  not  until  he  too 
had  been  made  to  feel  the  weight  of  the  burden  of  ostra- 


98  THE   TBOUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

cisni,  in  its  heaviest  form  —  that  of  total  solitude;  that  he 
might  give  the  move  incentive  to  us,  by  the  depths  of  one 
extreme  taught  the  exaltation  of  the  other,  the  highest 
and  best  in  the  world. 

"  It  is  true,  we  have  zealously  preserved  all  we  ever 
knew  and  heard,  and  have  added  a  collection  of  useful 
local  knowledge ;  we  have  chronicled  our  doings,  which  in 
a  busier  world  would  be  regarded  as  trifles  unworthy  of 
remembrance  —  but  which  are  the  sum  and  total  of  our 
history.  In  the  fifty  years  of  my  life,  what  has  been  our 
progress?  Are  we  to-day  fitted  for  and  equal  with  the 
society  which  our  fathers  and  mothers  left  ?  No,  we  have 
deteriorated.  Within  these  few  hours,  we  have  received 
a  practical  demonstration,  a  loving  glimpse  into  the  pro- 
cedure of  our  brethren,  somewhere,  beyond  these  surround- 
ing seas  —  they  have  progressed. 

"True,  were  it  not  for  this  self-same  ship-building 
(man's  arts  bring  him  his  smarts),  within  a  specimen  of 
which  we  are  now  enjoying  ourselves,  none  of  us  would  be 
here.  Thus,  so  far,  we  have  been  injured,  yet,  again,  ben- 
efited by  it.  And  conceive,  as,  thanks  to  this  practical 
example,  we  are  now  better  able  to  understand  the 
accounts  our  friend  has  vouchsafed  to  us,  what  delights 
and  pleasures,  what  luxuries,  what  entrancing  sights, 
sounds  and  sensations,  the  arts  and  sciences  in  their  high 
state  of  cultivation  afford  to  the  communities  of  our  fellow- 
men!  The  store  of  this  practical  knowledge,  whence 
comes  it  ?  Is  it  the  evolution  of  one  province,  one  nation  ? 
Nay,  every  corner  of  the  inhabited  earth  has  had  part  in 
this  garnering  —  frustrated  and  scattered,  or  nursed,  fos- 
tered and  fanned  into  life  again  ;  and  the  results,  periodi- 
cally, speak  as  the  special  opportunities  favor  distinct 
developments. 

"  We  might  remain  here  in  our  seclusion  eternally,  pass- 


THE  SCHOOL-MASTER  MAKES  A  SPEECH.  99 

ing  hence  by  the  laws  of  nature  and  succeeded  by  our 
progeny,  only  to  work  through  the  mazes  of  doubt,  experi- 
ence and  experiment  to  where  these  civilized  nations 
already  are  —  from  which  point  we  might  start,  were  we 
with  them,  or  they  united  with  us,  and  had  we  a  choice 
and  union  with  their  knowledge. 

"I  favor  intercommunication  of  the  freest  kind  through- 
out the  world  —  I  feel,  that  the  people  of  the  different 
localities  possess  diverse  characteristics,  have  various 
local  opportunities  and  facilities:  that  this  world  is  a 
whole,  in  natural  parts  and  functions,  not  separable  with- 
out ill  to  the  rest,  and  should  be  operated  concurrently. 
That  the  greatest  blessings  flow  from  a  healthy  whole, 
smoothly,  co-ordinately  working  body  —  no  matter  how 
well  any  part,  in  particular,  may  have  developed,  it  can- 
not bear  the  entire  brunt ;  it  will  either  be  an  isolated 
spot  of  health,  preyed  upon  and  surrounded  by  disease, 
which  is  ever  reaching  out  toward  it  and  sure  in  time  to 
encroach  upon  and  consume  it,  or  it  is,  itself,  a  well- 
defined  diseased  development. 

"Now,  when  our  noble  ship  courses  o'er  the  main,  and 
our  studies  and  observations  are  stimulated  by  the  possi- 
bilities it  opens  out  before  us,  then  we  shall  cast  hither 
and  thither  for  an  enlargement  of  our  vision,  and  increase 
of  glorious  powers  of  peace  by  intercourse  with  all  our 
fellow-men,  for  our  and  their  advantage  and  betterment, 
that  God's  aggregate  may  be  enjoyed  by  all,  as  he  intended 
it  should  be. 

Tell  me  not  of  little,  curtailed  range ! 

The  spirit  shall  traverse  the  universe. 

We  are  God's  favorites  and  his  house  's  our  own, 

He  wishes  us  each  cosy  nook  for  joy 

And  has  devised  each  place  as  such  a  nook. 

Would  you  displease  him  by  your  ignorant  cant 


100  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

Or  by  refusing  to  employ  his  store  ? 
Does  he  construct  in  parts  not  of  a  whole, 
Himself  the  whole  of  all  the  glorious  parts  ? 
With  lack  of  knowledge  we  abuse  our  gifts 
And  though  the  groveling  wretch  excites  your  ire 
And  your  contempt  arrays  your  goodly  points, 
Behold  in  that  example  the  distress : 
That  poor  unfortunate  lacks  a  balanced  creed, 
Bereft  of  power  his  might  is  more  his  need ; 
Employing  but  few  of  all  exceeds  with  some  — 
Since  nature's  scope  must  have  fulfilled  its  glume." 

At  the  close  of  this  speech,  we  attested  our  deep  appre- 
ciation. Mr.  Talbot  was  the  distinguished  personage  of 
the  hour,  having  dispersed  the  last  settlement  of  gloom 
with  the  first  ray  of  light,  but  he  bore  his  honors  in  the 
staid  manner  of  the  reflective,  imperturbable  philosopher, 
as  was  his  unostentatious,  truthful,  fearless,  lovable 
character. 

We  retired  a  happy-hearted  set  —  all  my  guests,  in  the 
staterooms,  on  the  vessel ;  our  prospects  had  brightened, 
and  our  motives  were  pure. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


THE    FIKST    KISS. 


The  ensuing  winter,  which  was  very  severe,  and  long, 
was,  nevertheless,  a  very  busy  and  interesting  one  for  us, 
engaged  as  we  were  in  the  closest  study  and  daily  drill  for 
our  contemplated  cruise  of  discovery  as  soon  as  the  weather 
should  again  become  pleasant.  We  had  explored  the  coal- 
field, already  referred  to,  and  a  part  of  our  population  was 
engaged  in  coal-mining ;  the  product,  of  first-class  quality, 


THE  FIRST  KISS.  101 

was  laden  on  sleds,  shoved  down  on  the  thick,  solid  ice  of 
the   little  stream,  which  transported  it  to  our  vessel  near 
this  stream's  mouth.     A  few  others  were  storing  the  quan- 
tity of  ice  for  the  steamer's  ice-hold;    whilst   others    yet 
were  fishing,  and  trapping  game  for  supplies  and  raiment, 
the  skins  being  variously  dressed  and  adapted,  in  addition 
to  which  the  ladies  were  giving  enthusiastic  assistance  in 
their  own  ways.     The  command  being  entrusted  to  me,  I 
endeavored  to  proceed  systematically,  with  as  little  as  pos- 
sible left  to  chance,  and  as  we  progressed  we  all  felt  that 
our  preparations  were  substantial.     So   eagerly  and   per- 
sistently did  we  engage  ourselves,  that  we  were  through 
before  we  could  depart ;  but  each  day  seemed  to  suggest 
something  more  and  much  was  acquired  of  general  benefit 
in  our  other  affairs.    Thus,  we  added  much  to  the  comforts 
of  our  abodes  and  their  enjoyments  ;  we  discovered  min- 
eral deposits  in  our  mining  prospectings ;    Ave  learned  of 
valuable  water-powers ;  we  discovered  oil  and  even  natural 
gas;  salt  deposits  were  found,  and  our  hunters,  now  excited 
to  especial  zeal  and  attention,  often  stumbled  upon  veri- 
table mints  of  valuables,  of  no  further  benefit  to  us  than  to 
lay  the  foundations  of  a  rare  and,  finally,  complete    mu- 
seum, itself  an  industrial   history.     I   was   the    practical, 
untutored  experienced  man,  while  Mr.  Talbot  was  rapidly 
becoming  versed  in  the  scientific  and  literary  lore  thereof 
and  rendered  us  invaluable  assistance. 

Beyond  a  doubt,  agriculturally  and  minerally  we  had  a 
rich  country,  amply  adapted  to  give  sustenance  and  happi- 
ness to  millions  of  population. 

My  previous  knowledge  and  experience,  naturally, 
enabled  me  to  perceive  many  advantages,  that  had  but 
to  be  turned  to  account,  and  there  followed,  of  course, 
many  improvements. 

I  had  these  otherwise  dry  affairs  interspersed  with  fes- 


102  THE   TROUBLE    OF   LIVING  ALONE. 

tivities  on  board  the  vessel.  There  was  so  much  of  abid- 
ing interest  there :  the  fabrics  and  jewelry,  utensils,  china, 
pictures,  style  of  dress  and  head-gear  and  a  thousand  arti- 
cles for  the  women;  the  fire-arms,  tools,  machinery,  appli- 
ances and  other  things  for  the  men  —  piano,  guitar,  violin 
and  all  the  musical  instruments'  lessons  —  and  the  ladies, 
on  one  occasion,  attired  "in  fashion,"  equal  to  a  mas- 
querade. That  life  at  this  time  was  by  no  means  dull 
goes  without  saying. 

Passing  over  this  Spring's  flora,  her  gentle  breezes,  hum- 
mings  and  carols,  and  her  poetry  maligned  by  those  who 
could  not  tell  Rhine-wine  from  a  bottle  of  salted  sea-water, 
we  shall  proceed  to  the  eve  of  our  first  voyage  of  discov- 
ery. How  we  all  had  become  concerned  in  star-lore,  had 
repeatedly  scrutinized  the  ship's  charts  and  endeavored  to 
grasp  the  portents  of  the  instruments ;  how  we  watched 
that  beautiful,  glowing  sunset,  and  knew,  or  thought  we 
did,  that  that  was  west,  and  figured  out,  somehow,  our 
relative  direction  from  the  rest  of  the  world. 

Only  myself  and  ten  of  the  hardiest  of  the  men  were  to 
go,  and,  as  an  exception,  the  old  helmsman ;  1'hineas,  my 
valiant  assistant,  was  now  to  become  regular  engineer,  with 
Samuel  Talbot  as  assistant ;  old  John  Bertram  to  attend 
the  wheel,  with  two  substitutes,  Ira  Mason  and  George 
Bertram ;  I  commanded,  with  Ebenezer  Mason,  the  eldest 
of  the  younger  men,  as  lieutenant,  and  James  Talbot  did 
the  cooking.  Our  force  was  small  and,  therefore,  it  would 
have  been  useless  to  draw  strict  lines  on  our  several  duties, 
had  courtesy,  even,  permitted  it,  for  our  division  of  labor 
was  only  in  the  nature  of  expediency,  nor  was  there  any 
distinction  in  the  pride  each  towards  the  other  felt  therefor. 

The  generally  merry  group  was  quite  subdued  on  this 
eve,  excepting  myself,  of  whom  all  possible  encouragement 
was  expected,  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  excited  no  com- 


THE  FIRST  KISS.  103 

ment;  the  intrepid  band  were  heroes,  yet,  the  objects  of 
much  yearning  attention  from  those  who  were  soon  to  be 
separated  — perhaps,  forever.  This  kind  of  anticipation 
was  entirely  concerned  with  those  about  to  depart  —  with 
no  thought  that  death  might  as  well  invade  the  little  circle 
remaining  behind  and  strike  as  cruel  a  blow.  I  felt  a 
presage  of  good  from  our  voyage,  and  did  much  to  lighten 
the  oppression  by  my  arguments,  sanguine  statements  and 
demeanor. 

Sweet  Kathleen — well,  I  caught  her  gazing  at  me,  I 
thought,  rather  longingly,  and,  as  though  casually,  I  drew 
near  to  her,  and  in  a  moment  when  there  seemed  to  be  a 
general  distraction  withdrew  her,  by  a  suggestion,  from 
the  others.  In  the  bright  moonlight,  as  zephyrs  played 
with  her  soft,  fluffy  hair,  and  the  mighty  ocean  seemed, 
contentedly,  to  roll :  "  Eternal,  eternal,"  we  slowly  passed 
on,  her  hand  in  mine,  then — her  frame  quivered  —  my 
arm  gently  stole  around  her  waist,  and,  drawing  her  blush- 
ing face  to  mine,  I  — 

A  pure  kiss  — ah,  how,  still,  lingers  its  sweet  ectasy, 
And  thrills  me  through  all  life  with  memory's  bliss ; 
I  breathed  my  soul  upon  those  chaste,  warm  lips, 
And,  yet,  inhaled  the  nectar  of  her  heart 
Oh,  moments  heavenly,  when  I  yielded  mine, 
Thoughts  so  divine,  when  her  soul  came  to  me, 
As  bosom  throbbed  to  bosom  one  brief  spell  — 
And,  yet,  I  leave  thee  for  awhile,  heed  well, 
The  seal  has  closed  our  compact,  I  am  bound 
To  cherish  never  other  thought,  than  this, 
Sweet  maid,  pure  love,  in  thee  my  ways  entwine. 

Silently  we  stood,  gazing  out  to  sea,  her  bosom  heaving 
as  though  with  some  inward  commotion,  which  seemed 
partly  suppressed ;  she  was  closely  clasped  in  my  fervent 
embrace,    her   silky,    beautiful   head   resting   against  my 


104  TIIE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

shoulder  —  at  this  moment,  her  younger  brother  approached 
to  announce  the  desired  presence  of  all  of  us  at  the  "All 
Hail  and  God-speeding*'  banquet.  After  that,  at  parting, 
I  had  only  the  opportunity  to  press  her  hand-  -the  press- 
ure was  quiveringly  returned. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


VOYAGERS. 


A  more  auspicious  morn  could  net  have  fallen  to  us. 
Boldly  we  stood  out  to  sea.  We  had  planned  a  directly 
western  course,  without  any  reason  therefor  other  than  a 
mere  choice  of  lot.  More  heroism  and  determination,  than 
physical  strength  sustained  us  through  our  trials  and 
trepidations.  Seasickness  began  to  manifest  itself  as  soon 
as  land  disappeared  from  sight,  and  the  cook's  occupation 
would  have  been  gone  for  the  next  two  days  —  even  had 
he  not  been  first,  and  worse  afHicted  than  any  of  us. 
The  smell  from  the  kitchen  is,  ordinarily,  enough  for  me 
on  any  kind  of  steamer  out  in  motion,  so  I  succumbed 
with  the  rest  of  them.  After  this  healthy  but  unpleasant 
purgation,  we  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  learning  that  there 
may  be  times  when  death,  even,  can  lose  its  terrors. 
Poor  cook  was  the  last  to  regain  himself,  and  such  cook- 
ing as  was  done  until  then,  was  desultory  indeed. 

All  were  becoming  practically  familiar  with  their  parts, 
and,  as  is  always  befitting  in  any  vocation  of  life  for  its 
honor  and  success,  were  developing  their  several  duties 
into  objects  of  pride,  when,  on  the  evening  of  the 
seventh  day  out,  wind  arose  and  the  waves  began  to  dash 
high,  when  every  nerve  and  muscle  was  strained  to  bear 


VOYAGERS.  105 

the  tests  for  our  new  accomplishments,  and  nobly  the  good 
old  steamer  bore  herself  through.  Veteran  tars  could  not 
have  been  more  nonchalant — than  we  were  after  that! 
Afterwards  the  little  storms,  that  traversed  us,  caused  us 
no  fear. 

Well,  we  ate  and  drank  and  were  cheerful  and  merry, 
recalling,  always,  that  to  Providence  we  owed  our  entire 
guidance,  and  could  feel  as  peaceful  as  the  sleeping  nurse- 
lings, in  an  abiding  Faith. 

Forward  plunged  our  intrepid  monster,  and  we  could 
count  numerous  knots  the  hour  and  many  miles  the  day, 
but  we  were  making  no  efforts  to  run  very  fast;  our  ship's 
log  kept  a  respectable,  if,  for  the  time  and  occurrences, 
somewhat  voluminous  chronicle. 

On  the  evening  of  the  fifteenth  day  we  had  inventoried 
our  stock  and,  for  the  first  time,  discussed  the  advisability 
of  returning;  when  our  trusty  lookout  startled  us  by  the 
announcement  of  a  light  or  fire  on  the  western  horizon. 
The  sun,  was  hinted  ;  but,  that  being  improbable,  at  11.30 
p.  m.,  some  of  us  mounted,  and  through  the  glasses 
thought  we,  too,  could  distinguish  something  luminous 
there.  The  excitement,  then,  became  intense  —  and  sud- 
denly the  idea  of  danger  flashed  into  our  minds  almost 
simultaneously.  We  held  a  council  of  prudence,  therefore, 
and  decided  to  push  forward.  Sleepiness  did  not  trouble 
us  that  night,  as  the  interesting  object  did  not  disappear. 

With  the  disappearance  of  the  gloom  of  night  an  imper- 
vious fog  enveloped  us.  We  deemed  it  well  to  stop,  keep- 
ing out  our  signal-lights,  and  sounding  our  fog-horn,  at 
the  same  time  anxiously  trying  to  pierce  the  surrounding 
density.  About  noon,  the  fog  lifted,  and  away  off  ahead 
of  us  still,  a  dark  rim  seemed  to  be  visible ;  we  hardly 
dared  to  believe  our  eyes ;  and  yet  was  it  not  the  fulfill- 
ment of  what  we  had  devoutly  trusted  ? 


106  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

Experience  the  meagerness,  the  fickleness  of  our  faith, 
by  no  less  an  object  lesson,  than  our  emotions  and  incredu- 
lous fears  at  the  attainment  of  our  ardent  desires! 

Misgivings  began  to  present  themselves  as  to  our 
possible  reception ;  but  Ave  felt  there  was  no  alternative, 
certainly  no  turning  back  now  —  and,  with  a  prayer  for 
our  safety  and  for  those  left  behind,  we  stifled  every  other 
emotion,  suppressed  every  consideration,  excepting  the 
one  immediately  before  us,  and  proceeded  as  rapidly  as 
we  could,  all  hands  on  deck  and  to  the  fore,  except  the 
engineer  and  his  assistant  and  the  sturdy  rudderer. 
Arming  ourselves  with  fire-arms  and  other  weapons,  of 
which,  with  ammunition,  there  was  no  dearth  —  we  stood 
arrayed  for  discovery  or  death  !  Approaching,  apparently, 
a  lifeless  expanse,  until  we  feared  to  go  nearer,  a  boat  was 
lowered  and,  manned  by  myself  and  five  others,  rowed  to 
the  shore,  where,  I  the  first  to  leap  on,  this  little  detach- 
ment of  us  trod  land  once  more. 

There  was  no  time  for  exultation  over  that,  as  a  little 
distance  off  we  saw  the  ashes  of  a  large  fire,  still  warm, 
and  —  detected  footprints  leading  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
also  indications  that  some  larger  object  had  scraped  there, 
on  the  sand  and  conducting  into  the  water,  probably  a 
boat. 

Whither  they  had  gone,  nothing  indicated  —  the  water 
leaves  no  track  behind,  of  those  who  have  been  borne  or 
engulfed  by  it.  We  returned  to  the  steamer  and  reported 
to  our  earnestly  awaiting  companions,  and  then  concluded 
to  coast  this  Newland,  entering  upon  our  project  at 
once. 

That  evening,  as  the  sun  was  reddening  the  few  fleecy 
clouds  with  a  brilliant  hue,  we  drew  near  to  and  perceived 
a  set  of  habitations,  orderly  arranged  and  bearing  evi- 
dence of  a  system  thereabouts,  and  a  distant  sound  to  us, 


NEW  FACES— YET,  EVER,  OLD  TREY  SEEM!    107 

of  activity,  readied  oar  ears.     At  last,  what  a  thrill  of 
anticipation  or  doom  ! 

Anchoring  out,  not  far  from  this  shore,  I  again  with  five 
ventured  in  a  boat,  alert  to  every  indication,  leaving  the 
remaining  as  a  guard  to  the  vessel  and  a  reserve  in  case 
of  emergency. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

NEW  FACES YET,  EVER,  OLD  THEY  SEEM ! 

Is  man  not  man,  maid  maid,  woman,  lad  or  babe, 

Whate'er  geography  locates  their  states  ? 

The  visible  form  is  flesh,  bone,  blood  and  shape 

And  reasons  wrestles  in  a  human  crate. 

Then  he's  your  brother,  she  your  sister,  while 

No  dissonance  can  shirk  your  duty's  sense ! 

Columbus,  you  recall  upon  our  shore 

Did  they  not  teach  you  then  that  human  love 

And  human  thought  could  nourish  in  the  wilds; 

And  if  some  passions  coursed  within  their  bloods 

How  muchly  more  they  learned  from  your  cohorts  ? 

And  you  lamented  how  much  natural  grace 

Dissolved  before  the  advent's  paler  face  ! 

Your  chains  are  jangling  to  teach  the  creed! 

Philosopher,  from  you  we  have  the  truth 

Indomitable  courage  is  our  God's  Love ; 

Eequital  in  your  fellow-man's  reproof 

The  curse  you  felt,  but  always  blessed  your  God 

And  sighing,  Mercy,  mercily  forgave. 

Thus  honored  moulderings  have  filled  your  grave ! 

Oh,  idle  man  you  trend  with  caustic  stuff, 

You  lead  a  life  that  is  not  clear  enough 

In  freedom's  measure  not  from  right  to  swerve. 

In  ev'ry  Nation  note  the  men  of  fame, 

Speak,  in  each  clime  is  wisdom  not  the  same  ? 


108  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Then  if  co-ordinate  men  of  fame  are  like 
Conduce  such  matches,  that  each  friction's  strike 
May  cast  a  light  upon  this  worldly  gloom, 
That  is,  raise  standards  then  all  men  thereto; 
To  wrap  within  the  higher  recompense 
Makes  equal  man  to  man  from  clime  to  clime, 
%         As  goodly  men,  where'er,  will,  always,  chime. 

There  is  a  bond  of  sympathy,  a  real  relationship 
between  men  of  thoughtful,  deliberative  minds,  that  makes 
them  coeval  and  equal,  wheresoever  chance  in  its  indis- 
criminate choice  has  placed  them;  and  the  contemporane- 
ous discourses  in  the  several  countries  each  honor  their 
respective  masters. 

This  moral  or  conclusion  seems  to  arise  herefrom,  that 
distinctions  are  merely  intellectual.  Thus,  to  make  your 
neighbors  useful  and  pleasant  to  you,  elevate  them,  if  you 
are  above  and  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  or  elevate  yourself 
and  them  together.  Integrity,  which  is  based  on  true 
enlightenment,  promotes  harmony;  and  general  integrity 
is  not  promulgated  by  factional  strife. 

We  were  well  received  at  what  wre  discovered  was  a 
busy  town.  Our  advent  aroused  in  these  people  curiosity 
and  superstition.  To  our  delight,  their  language  was  a 
fragment  of  the  old  English  tongue,  and  was  sufficient, 
with  gesticulations  and  pointings,  to  conduct  a  fairly  intel- 
ligible conversation.  I  shall  briefly  sketch  their  history 
hereafter. 

The  town  was  of  goodly  size  and  constituted  their  prin- 
cipal fishing  port;  it  was  moreover  their  capital  and  prin- 
cipal market-town.  Their  population  was  over  fifty 
thousand. 

These  people  bore  evidence  of  having  been  isolated  a 
long  time.  Certain  features  had  become  marked  by  the  long 
continuance  in  a  new  climate,  and  new  habits ;  Out  withal 


NEW  FACES— YET,  EVER,  OLD  THEY  SEEM!     109 

they  must  be  described  as  a  simple  kindly  dispositioued 
folk,  with  a  natural  but  artless  shrewdness  and  perspicuity, 
by  no  means  to  be  despised.  They  were  medium  sized, 
quick,  active,  keen,  and  possessed  of  indomitable  courage 
and  persistence,  that  bordered  on  abandon  in  their  deter- 
mination to  accomplish  their  purposes.  I  afterwards 
learned,  they  represented  a  thorough  intermixture  of  the 
English,  German  and  French  nationalities,  with  predomi- 
nance of  the  first,  all  of  the  humblest  of  their  respective 
countries'  classes,  embarked  as  poor  emigrants.  Fortune 
deposited  them  here,  to  evolve  a  government  from  them- 
selves, who  had  been  under  the  cruel  lash  of  the  dominant 
classes  at  home  so  long  that  little  more,  at  first,  than  the 
mere  instincts  of  dumb  brutes  could  have  been  expected  of 
them  —  but  displaying  excellent  parts,  as  the  long  kept 
dormant  and  abused  faculties  dared  to  peer  above  the 
inculcated  slavery. 

But  that  broad  breadth  of  insight  that  belongs  to  the 
more  enlightened  had  not  yet  reached  that  expansion,  for 
want  of  opportunity  and  knowledge;  but,  nevertheless, 
they  were  a  credit  to  themselves,  an  example  of  untram- 
meled  nature  in  its  orderliness. 

After  a  short  time  spent  in  their  company,  at  the  land- 
ing place,  we  bethought  ourselves  of  the  anxious  suspense 
and  curiosity  of  our  companions  remaining  on  board  the 
vessel. 

The  news  of  our  arrival  had  spread  over  the  town  like 
wildfire,  although  precipitated  upon  them  with  an  unto- 
ward suddenness,  and  a  great  throng  pressed  about  us,  as 
under  my  leadership  we  boldly  stepped  on  shore,  and  sev- 
eral who  appeared  to  be  leading  men  and  were  treated 
with  great  deference  by  the  crowd,  extended  to  us  their 
hospitality,  but  in  a  manner  that  evinced  their  feeling  of 
awe.     We    explained   our    situation   briefly,    as    best    we 


110  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

could,  and  received  their  marked  deference  and  some  show 
of  confidence,  as  far  as  they  were  capable  of  understand- 
ing us.  While  surprised,  apparently,  and  mystified,  they 
put  their  best  foot  forward,  so  to  say. 

The  lights  of  the  vessel  were  now  visible  and  served  us 
as  a  goal  in  the  growing  darkness;  we  rapidly  pro- 
ceeded to  our  friends  with  the  good  tidings.  As  our  boat 
pushed  off,  the  mass  gave  a  cheer,  as  though  of  delight  or 
admiration. 

Those  on  board  were  breathless  with  excitement,  as  may 
be  imagined ;  which  gave  place  to  great  exultation,  when 
we  told  them  of  our  impressions  and  surmises.  We 
retired  at  once,  with  the  precaution  of  a  double  watch  and 
subsequent  reliefs,  and  were  up  before  dawn  had  fairly 
broken.  After  a  hasty  breakfast  we  set  about  putting  our 
vessel  in  the  neatest  trim.  With  sunrise,  first  one,  then 
another,  and  finally  quite  a  little  school  of  boats  —  row  and 
sail  —  began  cautiously  to  approach  us,  for  the  evident  pur- 
pose of  inspection.  We  hailed  them,  as  any  approached 
near  enough,  and  beckoned  them  up;  but  none  seemed 
willing  to  venture — superstition,  thus,  being  so  readily 
allied  to  ignorance,  for,  otherwise,  they  seemed  to  have  no 
fear  of  us  or  our  craft. 

After  awhile,  however,  and  as  the  crowd  on  shore  began 
to  thicken  and  grow  each  minute,  as  we  could  discern 
through  our  glasses,  we  perceived  a  larger,  more  like  a 
gala  or  festival  row-boat  put  out,  seemingly  manned  by  a 
number  of  oarsmen.  Swiftly  this  pretty  craft  tended 
directly  toward  and  ere  long  had  reached  us.  Someone 
standing  toward  the  front  called  to  us  something  we  did 
not  understand;  but,  suspecting  a  formal  visit  from  one 
in  authority,  we  motioned  to  them  to  approach  as  closely 
as  possible,  at  the  same  time  dropping  a  ladder  of  rope 
down  the  vessel's  side,  which  two  of  our  party  descended 


NEW  FACES— YET,  EVER,  OLD  THEY  SEEM!     Ill 

and,  springing  into  their  boat,  aided  its  crew  in  securing 
to  the  hooks  lowered  from  the  vessel  to  it.  Then  five 
important  personages  ascended,  decked  in  their  garbs  of 
state  and  office,  and  were  heartily  welcomed  by  us. 

The  head  man  addressed  us,  gracefully.  He  said,  sub- 
stantially, that  after  our  departure  last  evening,  at  a 
meeting  it  was  decided  to  treat  with  us  and  extend  every 
courtesy,  and  they  had  been  delegated  to  impart  to  us 
their  kindly  intentions. 

I  responded  on  our  behalf,  that  we  esteemed  their  good- 
will very  highly  and  should  contribute  all  in  our  powers 
to  the  desired  result.  Thereupon  we  suggested,  that 
their  men  might  also  come  up;  bnt  to  this  they  quietly 
shook  their  heads  —  evidently,  degrees  of  society  were 
here  in  existence,  and  it  grieved  me  forcibly  to  be  recalled, 
thus,  to  society's  blemishes.  To  my  friends  this  was  of 
course  the  first  practical  demonstration  of  the  establish- 
ment I  had  told  them  of,  and  was  received  with  not  a 
little  astonishment,  accustomed,  as  they  were,  to  pure  fra- 
ternal regard,  in  practice  and  beneficial  policy. 

Then  followed  a  round  of  seeing  and  sight-showing  on 
the  vessel. 

Business  in  that  town  was  suspended  that  day ;  I  doubt 
even  whether  the  people  ate ;  and  the  news  ere  evening  had 
spread  many  miles  into  the  country,  whence  people  at  once 
began  to  come  in.  As  time  went  on  they  seemed  to  lose 
their  first  assurance,  and  on  reflection  after  witnessing 
our  manifestations,  innocent  and  unavoidable  enough,  were, 
evidently,  questioning  the  propriety  of  their  beginning. 

They  were  a  good  folk,  and  their  simple  hearts  dreaded 
a  possible  foreboding  from  the  heavens. 

Learning  the  water  near  the  shore  or  landing  was  very 
deep  and  there  was  afforded  a  sheltered  cove  we  aroused 
to  greater  energy  the  unextinguished  fires  and  soon  had 


112  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

steam  blowing  off  in  volumes  and  great  clouds  of  smoke 
gracefully  curling  upwards  and  the  vessel  in  motion 
towards  the  shore.  The  alarm  on  board  and  on  land  was 
magical  —  horrible.  The  rowers  in  the  gala-craft  help- 
lessly in  tow  were  in  abject  consternation  and  impreca- 
tion and  prayer  mingled.  Is  it  to  be  wondered  that  they 
esteemed  the  monster  a  living  thing  and  ourselves  imps  of 
its  construction,  despite  our  friendly  and  arduous  assur- 
ances of  man's  contrivance  ? 

At  this  time,  it  was  more  interesting  for  me  to  behold 
than  to  describe  the  motley  assemblage,  edging  and  push- 
ing forward  to  peer  at  us,  as  we  stepped  on  shore.  Seeing 
that  the  monster,  our  vessel,  had  become  comparatively 
quiet,  and  was  no  longer  approaching,  they  had  mostly 
ventured  to  return. 

As  everywhere,  nearly,  in  this  world,  caste  existed  here 
with  no  qualifications  of  pity,  and  showed  itself  plainly  in 
outward  appearances  and  mannerisms.  But,  in  this  hour 
of  one  common  concern,  rags  and  fine  raiment,  the 
ballooned  paunch  and  gaunt  spareness  hustled  each  other 
or  stood,  pressed  closely  together,  side  by  side.  They  had 
not  escaped  the  inculcations  of  their  ancestral  experiences. 

Can  you  appreciate  my  feelings  at  once  more  seeing  a. 
multitude,  as  my  memories  darted  back  to  former  occa- 
sions of  popular  excitement  or  announcements,  which  I  had 
witnessed  ?  No  brass  band  enlivened  this  occasion ;  on  the 
contrary,  an  oppressive,  awful  silence  reigned  instead  of 
any  sound  or  noise.  Individuals  in  uniform  led  the  way 
for  our  advance,  and  we  were  conducted  to  a  large  wagon 
or  car,  capable  of  comfortably  seating  us  all,  yet  primi- 
tively constructed,  and  drawn  by  about  twenty  donkeys 
hitched  in  twos,  led  by  three  attendants,  equidistantly 
distributed.  Donkeys,  I  will  add,  were  their  only  beasts 
of  burden;  and  goats  furnished  their  milk  products,  besides 


NEW  FACES— YET,  EVER,  OLD  THEY  SEEM!     113 

fabrics  from  their  hair  and  skins  —  and  their  flesh,  too,  at 
times  was  eaten.  They  were  thus  far  better  off  than  my 
friends. 

We  proceeded  through  the  principal  thoroughfares,  the 
passages  on  both  sides  densely  lined  with  spectators,  to  an 
edifice  of  greater  pretensions  and  significance  than  the 
rest,  and  suggestive  of  a  majestic  sombreness  and  over- 
shadowing—  it  might  well  have  been  the  monument  to 
the  specter,  that  has  arisen  from  the  sorrows  of  past  ages. 
This  was  the  Governmental  Residence — that  is,  here 
resided  the  presiding  officer,  together  with  an  oligarchy  of 
ten  additional  members,  and  their  families.  A  common 
table  was  served  in  a  court,  which  in  summer  was  open 
overhead,  in  winter  closed. 

The  architecture  was  grotesque,  yet  served  convenience. 
Off  to  the  southeast,  connecting  directly  from  one  corner 
by  a  covered  passage,  was  another  square  building,  larger 
than  the  former,  and  consisting  of  but  one  room  or  hall; 
this  building  was  so  located,  that  the  passage  entered  the 
nearest  wall,  the  northwesterly,  by  a  large  aperture  in  its 
center,  and  stood  transversely  to  the  southeastern  corner 
of  the  other  building  —  and  was  so  presented,  because,  their 
projectors  and  architects  said,  man's  oppression  of  the 
unfortunate  and  the  weak  extends  to  the  four  cardinal 
points :  this  shall  ever  be  a  reminder,  that  in  this  court  and 
legislative  hall  the  utmost  corners  shall  be  sought  for 
justice,  and  the  greatest  reach  of  a  square,  the  extent 
between  the  diagonal  corners,  is  thus  squarely  fronted 
upon;  their  surmounting  motto  was,  "The  Earth  seeks 
round  in  mean  ends  square."  The  effect  was  of  course 
curious,  and  shows  their  ideas. 

All  public  business  was  conducted  here  in  open  session. 
Here  the  laws  were  passed,  courts  held  and  every  order 
issued  in  a  loud  tone  of  voice,  resounding  and  distinctly 


114  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

understood  in  every  part  of  the  hall.  Nothing  in  the  way 
of  secret  societies  existed  here.  The  enactment  of  laws 
was  simple  and  brief  in  number  and  anyone  might,  during 
the  presentment,  publicly  urge  any  repeal  or  new  enact- 
ment. It  was,  therefore,  in  one  sense  a  much  simplified 
popular  government,  in  another  quite  arbitrary ;  their  needs 
were  simple  and  simple  remedies  were  required.  The 
terms  of  office  were  for  life  and  embraced  no  other  busi- 
ness for  the  incumbents,  nor  allowed  any.  Upon  the  death 
of  a  member,  a  new  one  was  elected  by  the  majority  vote 
of  all  the  electors,  being  only  males  and  restricted  to  real 
estate  owners  —  that  is,  having  arrived  at  a  requisite  age 
they  must  own  unencumbered  lands.  Encumbrances  con- 
sisted of  a  kind  of  registration  of  indebtedness  —  from 
judgments  in  their  court  or  freely  attached  liens.  This 
caused  electoral  disqualification  until  these  records  were 
lightened.  I  presume  this  was  to  encourage  independent 
thrift  and  extension  as  well  as  to  promptly  regard  or  avoid 
such  obligation.  Originality  brings  with  it  necessarily 
some  peculiarities.  (There  was  ample  scope  for  the  owner- 
ship of  realty  by  everyone,  and  this  provision  was,  evi- 
dently, to  encourage  husbandry.) 

As  their  territory  was  large,  to  facilitate  justice,  as  well 
as  to  accommodate  people  by  saving  them  long  trips  to  the 
capital,  the  country  was  divided  in  districts,  and  these 
eleven  appointed  two  persons  in  each  to  act  therein  as 
judges  and  sub-governors ;  and  twice  each  year  the  eleven 
made  the  round  to  three  distributed  regular  points,  where 
they  heard  the  appeals,  or  inspected  the  judgments  ren- 
dered by  their  subordinates,  and  completed  the  whole 
national  records  therefrom,  and  listened  to  addresses  by 
and  from  any  of  the  people;  subsequently,  all  these 
matters,  so  accumulated,  were  publicly  announced  in  the 
hall  at  the  capital.     There  were  no  lawyers,  each  person 


NEW  FACES— YET,  EVER,  OLD  THEY  SEEM!     115 

becoming,  in  fact,  cognizant  of  the  laws  by  direct  concern 
for  him  or  herself;  an  accusation  or  prayer  for  redress 
and  defense  were  publicly  stated  by  the  parties  them- 
selves, or  in  their  absence  by  a  friend,  and  anyone  present 
might  state  his  or  her  knowledge  or  views  on  the  subject; 
no  oath  was  required,  but,  where  it  was  shown  by  a  num- 
ber of  creditable  persons'  statements  that  anyone  had 
willfully  lied,  punishment  was  meted  out  according  to  a  set 
of  criminal  statutes.  These  were  their  salient  points  — 
primitive  yet  withal  effective,  because  they  were  honest, 
zealous  and  open  to  the  world.  Their  affairs  thus  were 
not  inequitably  conducted,  and  as,  at  the  stage  we  found 
them,  their  ruling  men  were  unselfish  philosophers,  who 
esteemed  as  the  highest  honors  the  knowledge  and  estab- 
lishment of  truth,  it  would  have  been  sad  to  disturb  this 
tranquillity  by  suggesting  improvements,  which  would 
have  been  to  precipitate  a  new,  unknown  order  of  things 
—  and  a  good  reform  is  bad  before  the  subjects  are  pre- 
pared for  it. 

Reaching  the  entrance  to  the  hall,  and  having  alighted, 
preceded  by  the  president,  we,  following  next  and  in  turn 
followed  by  the  ten  others,  were  led  to  the  raised  platform, 
and  first  assigned  to  seats  at  the  table,  the  president  occu- 
pying his,  and  the  others  remaining  standing.  The  vast 
room  soon  filled  and  overflowed  with  an  admirably  behaved 
audience,  standing  because  of  no  seats.  As  the  president 
arose,  a  hush  fell  upon  the  assemblage.  He  spoke  in  a 
deep,  powerful  tone  of  voice,  with  musical  intonations; 
substantially,  he  announced  to  them,  that  we  had  suddenly 
come  among  them  on  what  he  conceived  to  be  a  search- 
journey;  that  we  were  evidently  enlightened  beings  and 
seemed  to  carry  the  universal  assurance  of  intending  them 
no  harm;  that  we  were,  probably,  from  some  land  or 
country,  of  the  existence  of  which,  it  would  be  remembered, 


116  THE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

they  had  traditionary  cognizance  and  had,  often,  vaguely 
conjectured;  that  it  was,  at  least,  due,  that  we  should  be 
courteously  and  considerately  treated,  and  that  therefore 
they  would  consider  it  an  honor  to  entertain  us,  and  hoped 
that  all  would  contribute  to  make  our  sojourn  as  pleasant 
as  possible. 

A  ripple  of  assent  followed  his  conclusion. 

Thereupon  he  led  us  through  the  covered  passage  into 
the  other  building. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FEASTED. 

A  truly  delectable  repast  awaited  us,  spread  with 
inviting  nicety,  with  a  garlandure  that  evinced  a  refined 
taste. 

We  were  presented  to  the  women,  and  all  seated  them- 
selves at  the  festive  board,  each  judge  with  his  wife  to 
his  left;  we  succeeding,  in  a  row,  at  the  chieftain's 
right,  who  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table. 

Servants  attired  in  white  brought  in  the  viands,  in 
courses,  on  platters  made  of  burnt  clay  and  some  shaped 
out  of  hard,  medicinal-propertied  woods.  Our  plates  were 
of  a  peculiarly  hard,  whitish  wood,  shaped  round  and 
scraped  smooth  with  the  sharp  edges  of  shells  ami  rubbed 
and  polished,  until  they  were  really  beautiful. 

A  broth,  flesh  of  fish,  wild  fowls  and  game,  preparations 
of  some  succulent  roots,  which  imparted  a  pleasant  flavor 
and  agreeable  easiness  to  the  digestion,  and  other  indigen- 
ous vegetation,  besides  goat's-milk  and  preparations  there- 
from, were  served  in  succeeding  order  with  the  precision 
of  epicures.     A  kind  of  barley-meal  furnished  their  bread. 


FEASTED.  117 

They  possessed  salt  and  sugar,  and,  also,  a  delightful 
liquor,  agreeable  to  the  taste  and  exhilarating,  without 
being  intoxicating. 

We  enjoyed  the  repast  exceedingly.  It  was  interspersed 
with  gay  good-humor  and  excellent  sallies,  marred  only 
for  us  by  the  difficulty  of  intercommunication.  I  under- 
stood them  better  than  I  could  make  them  understand 
me. 

After  we  had  all  regaled  ourselves,  I  arose  and,  speak- 
ing very  slowly,  said  that  it  was  a  source  of  very  great 
pleasure  to  us  that  we  had  found  human  beings,  and  espe- 
cially of  such  advancement.  When  we  might  have  en- 
countered savages  —  we'  were  agreeably  surprised  by 
enlightened,  humane  people,  from  an  intercourse  with 
whom  we  expected  much  benefit  in  the  future,  and  hoped 
to  contribute  our  share  to  the  common  fund  of  the  general 
weal ;  that  we  desired  to  extend  our  hands  of  fellowship 
and  true  brotherhood  in  any  enterprises,  and  offer  every 
facility  in  our  powers  for  their  beneficial  use;  that  words 
could  not  express  the  feelings  of  our  hearts,  and  we  should, 
certainly,  insist  upon  entertaining  as  many  of  them,  in 
return  for  their  kind  treatment  of  us,  as  could  be  con- 
veyed to  our  welcoming  shores. 

They  understood  me,  and  the  next  to  the  chief,  an  elderly, 
white-haired  man,  gracefully  and  briefly  thanked  us  for 
our  manifestation  of  satisfaction. 

After  we  had  arisen  from  the  table,  the  children  were 
brought  in,  large  and  small,  a  healthy,  rollicking,  romping 
lot,  who,  whilst  a  little  abashed  at  our  unusual  presence, 
sparkled  with  curiosity  —  such  are  children  the  world  over 
—  as  they  shyly  glanced  at  us. 

By  their  table  etiquette,  the  children  with  their  guard, 
a  dignified  matron,  always  waited  until  their  parents  had 
partaken,  for  their  meals. 


118  THE    TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

We  were  next  shown  the  apartments  at  our  disposal,  a 
series  of  ten  rooms,  set  apart  for  guest-chambers  for  any 
distinguished  governmental  visitors — which  heretofore 
had  been  confined  to  those  of  the  country  districts. 

It  was  then  suggested  that  Ave  should  take  a  survey  of 
the  city  ;  but  I  first  begged  that  our  three  companions  left 
on  shipboard,  who  had  thus  far  missed  these  ceremonies 
and  pleasures,  should  be  allowed  to  come  ashore  and  enter 
the  party,  and  said  that  I  would  take  the  place  as  watch, 
they  being  unused  to  such  sights ;  whereas  I  was  by  my 
previous  experience  differently  situated.  Although  demur- 
ring to  my  severance  from  them,  upon  my  reasonable 
insistence  they  yielded,  and  we  were  driven  to  the  land- 
ing, whence  we  speedily  rowed  to  our  vessel  and  soon 
had  effected  the  intended  transfers.  I  wanted  to  gratify 
these  three  companions.  I  desired  also  to  learn  the  effect 
of  the  simple  intercourse  between  these  excellent  specimens 
of  detoned  people  in  their  receded  conditions  from  the 
progressive  civilization  their  ancestors  had  eminently  or 
as  purely  as  possible  emanated. 

That  I  regarded  a  protection  requisite  on  board,  was  not 
the  opinion  of  these  people's  predatory  inclination,  as  they 
manifested  but  good-will  coupled  with  curiosity;  but  it 
must  be  remembered  I  had  dwelt  long  enough  and  incul- 
cated in  me  after  birth  in  my  native,  most  highly  and 
exemplary  civilized  surroundings  and  experience  the 
acquired  prudence  of  established  insincerities.  I  may  say 
the  habit  of  suspicion,  then  and  there,  hung  tenaciously  to 
me.  Whether  or  not  this  propriety  continues  I,  now,  far 
removed  with  no  expectation  or  hope  to  return,  to  you 
ascribe  for  solution,  who  are  in  the  distant  land  of  civili- 
zation and  my  former  habitation.  I  may  be  instrumental 
that  an  intercommunication  between  these  people  and 
yourselves  will  ensue,  when  I  pray  you  to  treat  them  as 


FEASTED.  119 

brethren,  and  not,  ever,  treat  my  fellow-man  with  distrust. 
Simplicity  of  manner  and  plain  confidences  do  not  attend 
outraged  trusts;  but  the  last-named  foster  a  contrary 
sentiment,  that,  thereafter,  manifests  itself  in  every 
transaction  of  life,  much,  to  any  harm,  carried,  even,  to 
the  echoless  wastes. 

Then,  I  wanted  to  think,  to  ponder — and  sweet  Kath- 
leen arose  in  my  mind  and  demanded  a  devotion. 

I  watched  them  out  of  sight,  saw  the  commotion  among 
the  dense  crowd  of  people ;  then  descended  to  the  engine- 
room,  making  a  careful  inspection  of  the  condition  of 
things,  and  found  them  in  excellent  order.  Phineas  took 
such  a  pride  in  his  vocation,  that  he  loved  his  machinery 
as  though  a  mate  to  him,  and  proved  his  regard  by  the 
dress,  the  dazzle  that  shone  from  every  part,  the  result  of 
his  diligent  rubbing  and  polishing,  and  the  whole  moving 
without  a  jar,  from  his  careful  oiling  and  adjustment. 
Returning  on  deck,  I  threw  myself  in  a  large  easy-chair,  in 
the  shade  and  facing  to  the  shore  — and  reflected. 

Here  were  a  primitively  acting  people,  civilized  in  a 
measure,  yet,  upon  the  whole,  not  advanced  or  rather  not 
progressive  but  in  fact  deteriorated.  In  some  respects 
I  preferred  their  state  —  their  simplicity  of  manners,  for 
instance ;  still,  may  not  that  be  only  relative  to  all  their 
surroundings  ? 

Would  I  willingly  forego  the  pleasures  and  delights  of 
a  higher  civilization  ?  No.  It  was  not  homesickness,  for 
I  had  no  particular  home  to  return  to  or  any  marked 
attachment  to  attract  me  thither,  but  I  could  intelligently 
attribute  the  feeling,  first,  to  desire  of  the  glory  of  the 
whole;  that  failing,  of  personal  achievement;  and  to  the 
healthy,  active  energy  in  man,  which  craves  this  fulfill- 
ment of  the  highest  destiny  on  earth. 

God  gave  to  the  human  family  the  earth  and  the  seas 


120  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

and  the  skies,  and  their  attendant  functions  and  offerings, 
intermediaries  and  Mendings.  From  them  man  receives 
his  first  common  resources  —  swayed,  thereafter,  when 
mere  necessity  is  supplied. 

Necessity  again  levels  mankind  —  witness  the  ship- 
wrecked when  raiment  and  food  assume  their  proper 
sphere,  that  only  of  comfort  and  sustenance,  and  shelter 
that  of  protection. 

A  natural,  pure  sentiment  dictates  a  division  of  toil 
according  to  adaptation  and  best  calculated  for  the  general 
good — yet  who  is  to  apportion  the  several  duties?  A 
spirit  advances,  first,  cautiously,  then  another,  and  are 
countermet  to  be  restrained,  somewhat;  but  at  least  a 
war  ensues  between  the  different  representative  ideas, 
desires  and  exultations.  Indolence  on  the  part  of  some, 
insatiability  with  others,  add  to  the  derangements.  Oh, 
this  interminable  entanglement,  that  the  human  heart, 
mind  and  soul  cannot  exist  without  employment  and 
solely,  somehow  or  other,  diverted  from  its  proper  chan- 
nel to  rush  blendedly,  hither  and  thither,  increasing, 
thereby,  their  respective  confusions.  Few  quietly,  pain- 
fully for  a  time  heed  and  ponder  and  strike  in  the  direc- 
tion to  regain  the  proper  course,  all  bring  care  and  trouble, 
when  everything  might  be  smooth  and  pleasant ! 

Somewhere,  within  the  confines  of  this  earth  and 
powers  are  vouchsafed  to  us  the  same  results  beneficially 
sought,  easily,  safely  and  pleasantly  accomplished  with  but 
a  pure,  mere  manifestation  of  desire  and  but  its  happy 
accompaniment  of  joyful  exercise. 

I  watched  the  fisherman  toiling  at  his  net,  nearly  cap- 
sizing his  boat  in  his  strenuous  efforts  and  thus  in  peril  of 
his  life;  another  toiler  labored  in  the  sweat  of  his  brow, 
as  he  belabored  his  lazy  old  donkey,  who  gave  indications 
that  she  was  very  tired,  also,  of  life,  and  very  listlessly 


FEASTED.  121 

proceeded  to  pull  along  the  heavily  laden  cart ;  but  here  a 
merry  young  maiden  skipped  lightly  to  the  water's  edge 
and,  darting  down,  dipped  a  vessel  into  the  ocean's  brine, 
bearing  away  her  trophy  with  the  measures  of  her  foot- 
steps marked  out  and  accompanied  by  the  sounds  of  her 
voice  in  a  gleeful  song. 

But  the  June  sky  and  breezes,  cool  and  pleasant,  carry- 
ing murmurs  upon  their  wings,  subdued  my  senses  as  I 
slipped  into  a  drowsy,  oblivious  doze. 

I  was  startled  by  a  sound  and  call,  and  looking  whence 
it  came,  saw  the  fisherman  alongside  in  his  little  smack 
beckoning  to  me.  I  gathered  that  he  would  like  to  come 
up  so  lowered  the  rope-ladder,  which  he  fastened  to  his 
boat  and  then  ascended.  He  was  a  man  about  sixty  years 
of  age  —  hale,  hearty  and  muscular ;  he  would  have  meas- 
ured five  feet  six  inches  in  height,  a  large  size  for  these 
people;  his  hair  was  long  and  gray  and  he  wore  a  full 
bushy  gray  beard.  He  was  clothed  in  a  singular  suit  made 
of  one  piece  of  goods,  cut  with  arm-holes,  through  which 
extended  the  bare  arms,  the  piece  slit  up  at  the  bottom  in 
the  middle  to  the  length  of  his  legs,  and  the  ends  to  com- 
plete and  hold  the  encircling  of  the  body  and  legs  fas- 
tened together  by  leather  threads  or  thongs  run  or  seamed 
through.  His  large  feet  were  bare,  his  bronzed  calloused 
hands  large,  and  on  his  head,  fronted  by  a  broad  and  high 
forehead,  was  a  wide,  flat  head-gear,  made  of  the  same 
material  as  his  other  garment  and  stiffened  a  little,  by 
some  means,  in  the  brim.  He  addressed  me  in  a  conglom- 
eration of  speech,  but  was  respectful  and  diffident.  I 
judged  him  of  German  descent  and  thought  to  detect  Ger- 
man words  in  his  utterances.  I  could  estimate,  that  while 
hesitating  in  his  manner,  mayhap  out  of  deference  or  dis- 
cretion, he  was  a  courageous  personage  and  not  easily 
moved  by  superstition. 


122  THE   TROUBLE    OF   LIVING   ALONE. 

He  indicated  to  me  that  he  did  not  regard  us  or  our 
craft  as  emissaries  from  the  devil,  pointing  down,  or  as 
scourging  visitations  from  above.  I  gathered  thus  the 
drift  of  comment  among  the  people,  as  well  as  a  remnant 
or  indication  of  orthodoxy  in  religion  among  them. 

Seeing  that  he  was  curious,  I  conducted  him  all  around, 
but  his  dazed,  puzzled,  yet  often  admiring  looks  were  com- 
ical to  behold.  He  ventured  not  a  remark,  not  an  exclam- 
ation. When  we  again  reached  deck,  he  hurried  to  the 
ladder  and  quickly  disappeared  over  the  side  of  the  ves- 
sel, much  to  my  astonishment ;  but  directly  I  saw  his 
head  reappear  and  a  moment  later  he  stood  on  deck  with  a 
receptacle,  of  some  kind  of  rude  wicker  work,  full  of  small 
but  choice  table-fish,  which  he  deposited  on  the  floor,  and, 
uttering  something,  accompanied  by  a  kind  of  curtsy, 
turned,  descended  the  ladder,  loosened  his  boat  and  had 
soon  paddled  around  the  steamer  and  out  of  sight.  I 
placed  his  present,  which  was  an  evidence  of  his  apprecia- 
tion as  well  as  requiting  generosity,  in  the  cook's 
receptacle. 

I  took  a  pace  around  the  vessel  in  true  watchman's 
style.  But  all  was  quiet  and  serene.  I  ate  a  little  sup- 
per, as  the  glowing  radiance  of  the  skies  betokened  the 
sun's  good-night — that  same  sun  I  had  seen  in  Ohio,  in 
whose  shield  it  formed  one  of  its  emblems,  light,  in  whose 
rays  I  had  basked  and  blistered  my  back  in  the  brook's 
ripple,  there  it  was,  and  within  the  last  twenty -four  hours 
it  had  lighted  the  visages  of  former  acquaintances  and 
friends,  where,  I  could  mentally  locate,  but  not  find  them, 
they  physically  have  found  but  could  not  locate  me,  and 
Kathleen's  brow  and  sunny  hair,  too,  had  been  kissed  by 
some  of  those  rays.  I  wondered  if  I  might  intercept 
these  with  my  lips,  or  had  they  remained  on  that  sunny 
head  charmed  thereby  by  their  own  resemblance  —  I  was 


FEASTED.  123 

in  love  and  I  knew  it.  I  drew  a  loving,  quivering  Low 
over  my  sensitive  fiddle,  as  I  fondly  laid  my  cheek  on  its 
smooth  surface,  and  sent  forth  a  wailing  melody. 

The  breeze  was  toward  the  shore  and  bore  the  fantastic 
tones  thither,  and  as  the  twilight  was  dimming  the  view, 
I,  with  my  last  glimpses  thereby,  saw  people  gathering 
there  —  and  what  their  startled,  wrought-up  feelings  were 
in  these  days  of  our  strange  presence  at  the  weird  sound- 
wavelets,  I  can  only  announce  from  what  I  afterward 
learned,  that  they  believed  they  heard  some  angelic  bird 
from  the  celestial  shore. 

I  don't  know  how  long  I  played ;  but  I  continued  to 
pour  out  my  s oul  in  "Home,  sweet  Home,"  "Kathleen," 
"'Tis  years  since  last  we  met;  or,  Her  bright  smile,"  and 
numerous  others,  besides  improvisations,  in  which  I  could 
best  interpret  my  incomprehensible  nature,  completely 
lost  in  reverie,  when  a  lusty  cheer  awakened  me  to  the 
fact  of  my  companions'  return.  I  had  even  forgotten  to 
hang  out  the  lights  (subject  to  their  surprised  censure, 
had  they  not  been  too  happy  but  to  overlook  anything) 
and  hastily  lighting  a  lantern  (we  were  very  careful  of 
matches  in  those  days,  using  a  wafer,  which  was  lighted 
at  the  fire,  in  the  cook-stove,  at  least,  kept  glowing  always) 
held  it  that  they  might  see  their  way  to  come  up. 

All  were  delighted  with  the  afternoon  and  evening's 
entertainment;  everything  was  so  novel  to  them,  and  to 
see  so  many  persons  alone  a  revelation.  The  difference 
between  ourselves  and  our  children  is,  that  we  have  become 
accustomed  to  our  ordinary  sights.  Frequently  a  body  of 
legislators  are  no  more  decorous,  than  a  lot  of  boys  in  an 
unsuperintended  school-room  ;  the  latter  have  an  absence 
to  excuse  them,  the  former  nothing.  They  had  no  room 
or  time  to  feel  any  vanities  of  distinction  bestowed  upon 
them,  nor  had  they,  as  yet,  appreciated  conditions  of  caste 


124  THE   TllOUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

or  degrees  in  society,  trained  to  different  reflections  by 
their  own  guileless  institutions.  This  primitive  enlight- 
enment is  what  we  must  seek  again  to  attain — for  to 
them  each  one  they  saw  was  of  their  brethren.  This 
bespoke  the  real  truth  and  best  as  it  assured  in  their 
unbounded  delight  at  worldly  contact  a  widened  sphere, 
society  and  comprehension ;  they  saw  the  objects  attained 
without  reference  to  their  varied  ingrediences  to  emanate 
solely  from  the  human  mind.  They  recounted  to  me  with 
great,  almost  childish,  enthusiasm  all  the  happenings  dur- 
ing their  parade;  children,  maiden  and  youths  strewed 
flowers  on  their  way  —  the  minutest  details  seemed  not  to 
have  escaped  their  notice — and  commented  favorably  on 
the  industrial  advances;  whereas  I,  just  previously,  had 
in  my  own  private  contemplation  noted  the  retardation  of 
progress  here. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


DISCUSSION. 


The  transpired  is  an  indelible  occurrence  ;  history  is  infallible.  For- 
gotten ;  but,  it  cannot  be  extinguished  —  except  in  oblivion  and,  thus, 
seems  largely  the  Past. 

Early  next  morning,  they  seemed  constantly  to  advance 
upon  us  in  the  initiative,  we  received  a  messenger  who 
informed  us  that  the  goverment  wished  an  interview  with 
us,  and  asked  Avhether  or  not  it  pleased  us  to  accede  to 
their  request.  I  answered  that  it  was  our  ardent  desire, 
and  invited  the  whole  body  with  their  wives  to  our  vessel. 

The  cook,  with  two  assistants  for  the  occasion,  set  about 
providing  a  special  spread  worthy  of  our  guests.     In  an 


DISCUSSION.  125 

hour  from  that  time  they  were  seated  in  their  barge  of 
state  and  being  rowed  toward  us ;  on  this  occasion  we 
motioned  them  to  remain  seated,  whereupon  I  and  two 
others  descended,  and,  fastening  their  boat  to  the  lowered 
hoisting  apparatus,  to  their  new  alarm  lifted  them,  boat 
and  all,  bodily  from  the  water  and  deposited  them  safely 
on  deck.  We  then  politely  requested  them  to  step  out 
and  down  to  the  deck,  which  they  did  with  alacrity.  Let 
me  describe  their  costumes  of  state  for  the  occasion,  which 
were,  if  unique,  not  unpicturesque,  and  certainly  service- 
able and  decorous. 

One  of  the  first  things  that  struck  me  was  the  apparent 
modesty  and  morality  of  these  people.  Still  that  need  not 
be  surprising  since,  it  is  often  repeated,  many  primitive 
people  were  introduced  to  vice  by  their  civilized  discover- 
ers; just  as  to-day,  it  is  said,  much  of  the  populace  of 
the  Chinese  —  who  probably  antedate  us  in  so-called  civil- 
ization, to  treat  some  genius  ami  device  as  such,  having 
reached  their  individual  culmination,  and  therefore  incip- 
ient decay,  long  since  —  now  on  the  wane  —  can  give  us 
revelations  in  that  direction  astounding,  even,  to  our 
enlightenment.  Therefore,  vices  grow  with  our  progress, 
more,  than  keep  pace  and  encircle  the  front  to  cause  the 
early  culminations  successively  transpired  traceable  to 
this,  underlying,  principle.  The  recession  of  true  or  the 
substitution  of  false  religion. 

The  United  States  is  the  best,  of  highest  promise  and 
the  most  enlightened,  religious  country  on  earth;  free 
from  bigotry  and  intolerance  to  discountenance  religious 
hierarchy  and  pure  against  a  mere  oligarchy ;  to  stem  by 
faith  the  preposterous  claim  of  temporal  organization. 

The  will  of  God  is,  that  man  should  not  control  man, 
because  He  Himself  gives  freedom,  except  by  the  free 
intercourse  of  his  presence  and  agencies.     The  claims  of 


126  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

special  guardianships  are  unruly.  A  great  many  may 
claim  successorship  to  merely  designated  conditions. 
Through  faith  all  things  are  possible  to  everyone  without 
distinction  or  human  intercession  save  the  humanitarian 
principle  to  and  of  Christ:  the  Redemption.  This  is 
religion,  philosophy,  science,  conscience  —  the  free  agency 
God  has  implanted  and  allowed, 

These  people  were,  thus,  in  the  first  stages  of  or  rather 
emanated  from  a  state  of  civilization, 

He  knows  the  most,  who  speaks  from  sorrow's  ken, 
Whose  words  are  jewels  hewn  from  out  the  dross, 
Where,  therein,  hiding,  he  might  know  his  loss ; 

But,  he  has  suffered  most  for,  hiding,  thus, 
With  all  his  brilliance  pent-up  with  its  rays  — 
E'er,  gleam  again  or  pass  through  hardship's  frays, 

that  transplanted  in  a  few  specimens  far  removed  from  the 
locality  of  birth  was  to  rear  especially  a  promise  to  their 
children.  They  had  to  solve  the  question  of  existence  —  as 
we  that  of  restraint.  No  human  automatons  to  do  their 
work  and  their  mere  enjoyments  of  the  usufructs  and,  yet, 
pernicity  of  social  distinction  was  apparent  —  hence,  slavery 
is  not  beneficial  to  the  wielder  and  is  a  curse  to  the 
community. 

The  good  man  speaks  the  truth ; 

The  wayward  tries  from  heart  and  birth  — 

Conglomerate  they  both  say  true. 

The  one  sees  brightly  in  the  gleam  of  light, 

The  other  in  the  dread  storm's  flashing  flight. 

Recurring  to  the  items  of  dress,  I  learned  that  the 
materials  of  their  fabrics  were  grasses,  wood  or  plant- 
fibre    and    goat-hair    or    wool.      These    they    ingeniously 


DISCUSSION.  127 

handled  and  skillfully  and  artistically  arranged — the  first 
thing  humanity  has  seemed  to  learn  is  how  to  cover  its 
nakedness,  to  hide  its  most  artistic  outline  —  the  simplest 
of  procedures  and  best  apparel  made  by  the  simplest  of 
people,  and  the  greatest  of  vanities,  covering  the  real  cause 
for  the  only  pride  we  ever  had  cause  to  possess  —  our 
beautiful  bodily  resemblance  to  the  highest  ingrediences 
and  powers  in  the  universe. 

As  to-day  it  chances  elsewhere  that  otherwise  ignorant 
natives  of  some  favoring  climes  can  produce  fabrics  of  a 
texture  and  artistic  coloring  that  make  them  of  prime 
value  and  delight  in  the  world,  not  to  be  duplicated  else- 
where. So,  I  found  here,  that  in  the  working  of  these 
materials  into  clothing-stuffs  they  occupied  a  pre-eminence, 
truly  distinguishable,  and  in  clay  manipulation  and  hard 
wood-wares  they  had  obtained  high  proficiency. 

The  ladies'  garb,  on  this  occasion  of  eminence,  seemed 
to  consist  of  one  piece,  general  or  connective,  but  made  up 
of  three  materials  and  dexterously  worked  in  or  woven 
together  where  they  joined,  forming  a  perfect,  graduated 
blending  of  color  and  texture  and  fulfilling  the  evidently 
desired  effects.  The  stuff  was  thin,  not  raising  the  heat 
of  the  body,  but  otherwise  dense.  The  style  or  fit  curved 
gracefully  high  up  about  the  neck  and  throat,  then  hung 
in  loose,  interblending  folds  down  to  the  waist,  and  was 
confined  there  by  belting;  the  sleeves  were  full  and  airy, 
leaving  bare  the  shapely  wrists;  then  followed  what 
might  be  termed  the  divided  skirt,  gathered  and  held 
closely  at  the  ankle,  over  high  kid-leather  encasings  of  the 
feet,  in  natural  color,  following  the  natural  shape  of  the 
feet,  with  soft  leather  soles,  thence  upwards  in  ample  full- 
ness to  the  waist,  making  an  easy,  graceful  and  delightful 
garment  to  the  wearer.  Their  hair,  which  was  thick  and 
inclined  to  waviness,  was  very  fine,  glossy,  and  included 


128  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

respectively  the  several  shades,  and  somewhat  huffily  hung 
loose,  reaching  to  their  shoulders,  and  was  plainly  brushed 
back.  Everything  about  their  personal  appearance,  face, 
ears,  hands,  finger-nails,  beautiful,  white,  healthy  teeth 
and  their  whole  attire  supplemented  their  excpiisite  taste 
and  betokened  habits  of  and  strict  attention  to  cleanliness 
and  neatness.  The  men  wore  bushy  beards,  and  hair  very 
similar  to  their  wives,  though  not  so  long,  and  coarser. 
Among  the  more  advanced  in  years  gray  commingled  with 
the  jet  or  gold,  as  the  case  might  be.  The  attire  of  the 
men  consisted  also  of  one  piece,  fastened  together  down  a 
divide  or  opening  in  front,  being  made  to  fit  very  snugly, 
but  not  uncomfortably,  to  the  body,  from  the  good  fashion 
about  the  neck  to  the  fastening  at  the  knee,  with  a  sash- 
belt  about  the  waist-line  to  give  a  dressed  appearance; 
their  legs  were  enclosed  in  kid  leggings  and  goat-leather 
shoes  clad  their  feet. 

The  men's  siuts  were  black  on  this  occasion,  while  the 
ladies  affected  various  shades  of  color  suitable  to  their 
individual  complexions,  in  which  they  showed  such  good 
taste  as  to  excite  rapturous  admiration,  the  blending  of 
shades  and  harmony  of  coloring  not  being  an  unnatural 
intuition  in  the  human  family,  if  individually  allowed 
what  might  be  called  the  proper  instincts  and  relations 
therein.  The  goat-hair  materials  in  these  instances  were 
more  for  the  strengthening  the  places  for  connecting  the 
different  materials  where  the  strain  would  be  greatest,  as, 
in  the  equable  climate,  the  use  of  much  of  it  would  have 
made  the  garment  too  warm.  The  dignitaries  of  the 
world  indulge  their  pleasures  in  the  semi-guise  of  public 
affairs  or  in  the  more  intimate  relations  gain  the  knowl- 
edge to  inveigle  themselves  into  confidences,  though  at 
this  stage  the  craftiness  of  man  comes  to  the  fore.  Rou- 
tine is  iuevitable  and  the  next  thing  was  our  exhibition. 


DISCUSSION.  129 

After  the  forinai  greetings,  being  an  occasion  of  state, 
the  visitors  at  once  entered  into  unrestrained  appreciation 
of  the  situation,  and  seemed  entirely  free  from  embarrass- 
ment, having  no  doubt  been  assiduously  schooled  thereto, 
in  view  of  the  circumstances.  Each  part  of  the  ship  and 
the  exposed  parts  of  the  machinery  shone  and  appeared  at 
their  best.  Everything  had  been  put  in  readiness,  and, 
raising  the  anchors,  each  man  at  his  post,  the  machinery 
was  started  and  the  vessel  moved.  A  sort  of  quiver  at 
first  seemed  to  seize  our  visitors,  but  they  were  anon  lost 
in  astonishment  at  the  wonderful  operation,  at  length 
enabled  by  analogy  to  conjecture  a  power  of  the  mechan- 
ics, and  the  surprises  of  their  new  experience ;  they 
marveled  at  everything  we  had  and  did,  undisguisedly. 
We  had  decided  to  treat  them  to  an  excursion  as  part  of  the 
entertainment,  the  day  being  delightful  and  the  sea  calm, 
and,  as  none  of  them  had  ever  been  out  of  sight  of  land, 
to  extend  the  trip  that  far.  Their  glee  grew  as  the  minutes 
passed,  and  reassurance  manifested  itself  more  and  more 
with  familiarity.  With  their  easy,  quiet  tread  they 
seemed  fairly  to  glide,  in  their  graceful  movements,  over 
the  vessel,  as  in  their  animation  they  darted  hither  and 
thither,  with  a  view  to  every  vantage  point;  and  as  a 
gentle  lurch  of  the  vessel,  on  this  quiet  day  and  sea,  would 
sometimes  almost  upset  them,  the  incident  but  added  to 
the  zest  of  the  novelty. 

We  regaled  the  party  with  most  lavish  outlay,  away  out 
in  the  outlying  sea  out  of  sight  of  any  other  habitation  or 
foot-rest.  Our  choicest  viands  were  prepared  and  served 
in  our  best  style,  in  selecting  which  I  tried  to  exhibit  as 
much  as  possible  the  tastes  and  arts  in  vogue  in  the 
United  States.  A  number  of  toasts  were  drunk  in  bump- 
ers of  our  excellent  wine.  On  the  whole,  they  enjoyed 
the  feast  very  much,  although  the  dishes  were  as  novel  to 


130  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

them  as  our  selection  from  our  store  could  make  tliem; 
and,  with  the  effects  of  the  libations,  by  way  of  novelty, 
too,  which  however  we  judiciously  curtailed,  the  jollity 
and  good  humor  of  the  hour  might  be  said  to  have  been 
"unconfined."  Excitement,  probably,  spared  them  any 
feelings  of  sea-sickness,  aided  too  by  the  exceeding  calm- 
ness of  the  sea. 

We  returned  to  our  anchoring-place  as  the  dusk  began  to 
come  on,  and  it  was  a  happy  group  that  stood  listening  to 
our  parting  words,  preparatory  to  going  ashore. 

SCIOMACHY. 

The  shadows,  falling  as  they  dance  upon  the  leas  of  wealth, 

Contrive  a  cruel  fascination's  mystic  bond 

And,  hence,  they  spread,  throughout,  their  fantasies  with 

stealth, 
Which  lead  to  visions,  whither,  nought  trends  fond; 
As  in  prone  man  his  spirits  rove  in  chambers  three, 
Those  borne  to  impulse,  soul,  to  heart  and  mind, 
Therein  to  scourge  their  fetters,  emanate,  thence,  free, 
Thus,  they  will  rankle,  ever,  in  their  spirits'  kind. 
All  progress  stayed  on  elevation's  highest  plane, 
There,  one  straight  course  is  this  for  life  inane  ? 
Peace,  didst  thou  rest  upon  a  mortal's  crest 
Or  cease  the  tumult  of  his  anguished  breast  — 
Was  e'er  his  soul  with  blissful  joy  so  blest, 
That  not  another  hour  frightfully  did  wrest  ? 


So,  was  a  man  : 
A  little  shadow  dashed  forninst  his  brow, 
A  mist-enveloped  gleam  came  to  his  mind, 
So,  tired  and  fatigued  it  scarce  could  shine 
In  its  scarce,  living,  shiv'ring,  trembling,  light; 
Yet,  he  felt  luminated  by  its  frangent  ray 
And  posed  a  head-light  with  its  flick'ring  torch ! 

The  daring  culprit, 


DISCUSSION.  131 

Easping,  every  hour  from  birth  to  doom  — 
Does  he  conspire  to  end  this  teeming  earth, 
Or  does  he  wish  to  plunge  a  poniard,  life, 
To  still  its  impulse  and  its  pulse  for  trade 
Or  does  he  rant  ? 

No  period,  soothing  as  the  last-drawn  sigh, 
No  sigh,  so  longing  as  the  last-sought  hope, 
No  hope,  so  fearless  as  its  wished  for  end. 

SCIOMANCY. 

By  shadows  we  may  measure  heights ; 
But,  heights  contain  themselves. 

All  visions  tend  but  to  forecast  some  news, 

The  fascination  of  the  mental  views 

Wrought  on  a  sensitive  endeavor  of  the  mind 

Are  not  unworthy ;  but,  portend  of  kind. 

The  simple  child  has  fancies  not  its  own, 

It  borrows  from  its  lights  and  inwards  sown 

Deprive  it  not  of  that  sweet,  sated  rest, 

That  loves  to  nestle  where  it  lingers  best; 

All  musing  hours  are  shadows  cast  before, 

They  trace  each  subtle  passage  as  of  yore. 

When,  then,  the  muser  scoffs  at  his  own  guile 

Or  pensively  develops  many  a  while, 

Thereby,  prepares  the  strokes  for  master-hands, 

He  has  not  challenged  what  his  life  demands  — 

How  many  would  have  worshiped,  such,  his  hours, 

How  may  we  disregard  their  unguent  powers  ! 

How  weary,  weird  the  thought  of  utter  bliss, 

Like  to  some  maiden,  yearning  for  a  kiss 

l^rom  her  fresh  lips  just  burst  to  woman-state  — 

It  may  prove  pleasant;  yet,  it  may  abate 

The  would-have  ardors  judged  not  for  their  pair: 

In  life  meet  system  is  its  prime  affair. 

Thus,  in  the  bud  or  winter  of  all  life 

The  thought  is  uppermost,  oh,  seek,  ah,  rife 

Is  all  that  of  the  future  care,  to  rest 

Is  but  the  assuage  to  seek  it  best. 


132  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

"When  portents  hover  o'er  their  inklings  wide, 
They  do  in  fashion  all  their  charms  bestride 
And  point  directions,  whither,  mightst  thou  steer  ? 
Or  being  courseful  thither  shouldst  thou  veer! 
One  reck'ning  gives  conclusion  to  amounts ; 
But,  these  give  drift  and  body  to  accounts. 

On  the  next  morning  the  government  officers  appeared 
early,  for  the  contemplated  discussion.  They  came  as  a 
body  and  organized  for  public  business,  to  which  no  other 
considerations  were  admitted,  thus  manifesting  their  earn- 
estness. They  were  unaccompanied  by  anyone  else,  and 
showed  as  much  eagerness  and  impatience  to  proceed  with 
the  objective  business  as  politeness  would  possibly  permit, 
and  to  this  end  as  considerately  as  possible  waived  every 
other  attention,  that  we  thought  to  bestow.  My  compan- 
ions were  not  a  little  astonished  at  these  business-like 
methods,  or  what  appeared  to  them  the  severities  of  prac- 
tical life  without  any  mollifying  social  features,  in  the 
direct  attention  to  matters  in  hand ;  they  felt  confused 
and  inclined  to  keep  aloof,  because  of  the  newness  of  the 
evidences  before  them.  But  this  latter  was  very  foreign 
to  my  purposes  with  them,  for  divers  reasons.  Amongst 
others  I  wished  to  note  their  natural  temperaments 
untrammeled  as  they  were  yet  by  any  artificial  abuses 
refined  by  society  into  fine  art  with  severe  technicalities 
and  their  natural  penalties  instead  of  pure,  unswayed 
tendencies  of  promise  primarily  endowed  by  the  Creator; 
then,  I  wanted  them  to  experience,  in  their  own  vigorous 
state,  the  responsibility  of  the  contact  with  calculating 
minds,  disciplined  to  a  routine  and  serrated  by  elements 
that  have  brought  into  warfare  ignorant  requisitions 
of  unnatural  alliances.  Besides,  there  were  their  own 
interests  and  requirements,  of  which  they  knew  their 
necessities  by  experience,  and,  as  their  wits  would  become 


DISCUSSION.  133 

sharpened,  heated  by  actual  friction,  possibilities  would 
unfold  themselves,  better  understood  and  appreciated  by 
them,  because  of  their  assistance  in  developing  and  dis- 
covering them;  concerns  bring  ample  store;  also  their 
knowledge  would  be  enlarged  and  memory  awakened. 

Repairing  to  the  dining-room,  which  was  the  coolest  as 
well  as  most  appropriately  arranged  place  for  our  purpose, 
I  proposed  that  I  should  act  as  general  secretary,  and  the 
second  in  order  of  the  judges  to  preside,  since  the  presi- 
dent himself  was  to  conduct  the  remarks  on  their  side. 
Our  helmsman  was  to  do  the  <*  steering"  for  us  here,  too. 

It  was  to  be  expected,  that,  besides  my  notations,  I 
should  keenly  watch  all  the  proceedings,  and  be  heard 
from  in  order,  representing  as  I  did  a  third  interest,  and 
to  be  called  a  friend  to  everybody  in  my  knowledge  and 
independence. 

We  were  seated  at  the  long  table  in  the  center,  the  pre- 
siding officer  at  the  head  with  the  president  judge  at  his 
right,  myself  to  his  left,  Mr.  Bertram  next  to  me,  then, 
respectively,  on  our  sides  the  remaining  persons  of  each 
party  in  successive  seats.  The  white-haired  but  yet  vigor- 
ous president  of  the  governing  delegation  arose,  and  with  a 
graceful  yet  dignified  bow  to  the  chair  and  to  the  assembly, 
with  the  elements  of  courtesy  and  proprieties,  sequacious 
to  culture,  even  the  natural  exhibition  of  human  char- 
acter, he  began  with  the  happiest  allusions  to  the  auspi- 
ciousness  of  the  occasion  and  its  agreeable  revelations  to 
them ;  and,  in  language  equal  to  that  of  any  accomplished 
diplomat,  in  the  customary  happy  commonplaces  and  pre- 
ludes, indulged  delicately  in  complimentary  references  to 
us,  our  achievements,  enterprises,  prospects,  and  the  prom- 
ise of  benefit  they,  humbly  but  unmistakably,  recognized 
in  any  future  intercourse  we  might  graciously  accord  to 
them,  instruct  them,  share  our  products  for  anything  we 


134  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

might  esteem  of  use  or  enjoyment  of   theirs.     To  these 
sentiments  we  politely  bowed  in  modesty  our  thanks. 

Proceeding,  the  speaker  said  that  there  were  several 
things,  that  became  inevitably  apparent  and  impressed 
themselves  on  every  reflective,  earnest  individual  in  the 
daily  as  well  as  periodical  occurrences  of  affairs.  It  was 
required  of  all  of  us,  that  we  be  diligent  in  order  to  know 
what  is  going  on  and  for  that  reason  likely  to  take  place 
and  to  suggest  expediences ;  that  unforeseen  accident  may, 
ostensibly,  thwart  seemingly  well-laid  plans  ;  but,  that  this 
latter  proposition  is  doubtful,  anyway  not  as  well  established 
as  known,  that  our  faults  have  their  natural  sequences  and 
almost  every  disaster  can  be  traced  to  preceding  human 
fault,  not  referred  to  in  a  spiritual  sense,  readily  waived 
because  of  the  infrequent  effort  made  to  understand  it; 
but  the  material,  although  not  as  potent.  He  hoped  for 
and  believed  in  evolution- — a  rational,  comprehensible 
evolvement  into  higher  and  better  affairs,  but  his  sub- 
scription to  the  doctrine  was  largely  consequent  upon 
previous  downfall  or  retrogation  by  reason  of  disas- 
ter or  misconduct  to  or  on  the  part  of  our  ancestors.  Mani- 
festly victims  of  a  retrogression  of  race,  they  could 
perceive  in  the  supposed  progress  of  the  world  periodical 
recoveries  from  abjection  and  the  degeneration  of  the  old 
to  be  supplied  by  new  energies.  That  it  were  easy  to  esti- 
mate ourselves  better  than  our  predecessors,  that  is, 
advanced  upon  their  knowledge  and  practices,  to  argue  that 
we  have  improved  or  bettered  the  natures  they  have  trans- 
mitted to  us — did  we  not  witness  in  ourselves  the  unmis- 
takable  evidences  of  deterioration  or  temporal  suspension 
of  progression,  from  allowing  our  principles  to  relax. 
From  indolence  or  vice  arises  want  of  knowledge  and 
strength,  wisdom,  industry  and  —  success ;  as  a  studious 
government  officer,  with  the  welfare  of  the  populace  at 


DISCUSSION.  135 

heart,  he  found  those  elements  of  social  disease,  those 
cankers  in  humanity,  traceable  to  our  own  transmission 
and  imparting,  though  hampered  by  the  wilful  errors  of 
our  ancestors  and  some  extraneous  natural  causes. 

Situated  as  they  were  by  the  wise  provisions  of  their 
forefathers,  they  esteemed  the  establishment  prudent 
by  their  training  and  knowledge  of  no  better,  they  had 
ample  leisure  as  well  as  the  power,  trust  and  opportunity 
to  put  any  principle  to  test,  which  their  diligence  and 
forethought  could  suggest  and  prosecute.  The  transition 
of  narratives  ascribed  to  their  predecessors  strict  integrity, 
industrious  propriety  and  investigation  for  true  knowledge, 
which  adduces  morality  and  makes  its  maintenance  a  free 
and  urgent  choice ;  that  with  indolence  in  the  individual, 
thereafter  in  the  concourse  they  discovered  the  first  indi- 
cations and  invention  of  vice,  whereas  those  engaged  with 
the  true  affairs  of  life  were  filled  with  odium  at  these 
harmful  dispositions,  the  result  purely  of  cultivated  taste. 
The  legitimate  functions  are  crowded  out  of  the  space 
necessary  for  their  administration.  In  this  extent,  perhaps 
degree,  improvement  is  possible,  evolution  a  fact,  a  regener- 
ation, renewal,  reacquisition  of  the  pristine  glory  of  man, 
when  he  was  pure.  Mercy,  not  the  will ;  to  regain  the 
early  vigors  after  a  determinate  destructive  influence  on 
them,  all  the  joys  of  manhood  as  one  blessed  —  a  progress 
possible,  a  rehabilitation.  To  avoid  these  cataclysms  is 
feasible. 

That  they  felt  these  conclusions  to  be  natural  and 
evidential :  secluded  here  for  generations,  evolving  from 
themselves  whatever  woe  man  inflicted  upon  himself,  they 
had  no  source  of  evil  from  beyond  nor  any  view  to  succor 
from  such  a  source ;  and,  if  a  deterioration  became  notice- 
able, or,  even,  a  source  or  degree  of  evil  existed,  their 
range  was  not  so  great,  but  that  the  result  was  attribu- 


136  TI1E  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

table  within  a  circumscribed  limitation.  That  the  shades 
of  human  existence  became  unavoidable  for  reflection  by 
their  magnitude  in  the  small  frame;  the  world  brought 
things  around  to  us  and  was  lighted  provided  to  and  by 
ourselves.  In  the  confusion  of  ideas  ignorance  spins 
mysteries  for  want  of  reflection  and  manipulated  by 
unscrupulous  persons  created  false  doctrines  into  great 
climaxes.  These  were  begotten  in  iniquity  and  born  in 
venom,  reared  by  our  cultivation  and  use  a  dosed  remedy 
or  agony  and  destruction.  No  explanation  for  an  incon- 
gruity otherwise  existed.  Where,  then,  were  their  further 
knowledge  and  susceptible  transactions  ? 

"You,  excepting  the  Secretary,  have  had  a  still  more 
limited  range  and  less  elasticity  of  human  connections, 
and  that  is  shown  by  your  still  greater  simplicity  and 
mutual  love  and  consideration  in  regard  to  affairs  which 
have  happier  fruits  than  ours ;  and  our  friend,  the  Secre- 
tary, I  can  conjecture  from  analogy,  can  and  will  tell  us  of 
still  greater  complication  in  transactions  in  those  larger 
fields,  where  the  greater  number  tend  more  to  the  down- 
ward course,  than  we,  even,  imagine  —  because  they  bear 
down  on  each  other  and  there  is  the  greater  number  to  do 
it.  I  contend,  in  my  primitive  way,  that  human  inter- 
course and  desires  are  the  result  of  instruction — thus,  that 
by  instruction  the  best  conditions  of  our  respective  rela- 
tions and  affairs  should  and  could  be  inculcated,  looking 
to,  then  as  now,  the  one  result,  practice ;  the  human  heart 
responds  generously  when  its  comprehension  is  pleased  — 
I  hope  the  Secretary  will  bear  me  out  from  his  larger  range 
of  knowledge,  as  we  have  come  to  the  conclusion  and  in 
favor  of  the  free  schooling  system,  out  of  that  arises 
respect,  from  that  religion  —  not  intimidation.  How  may 
our  people  be  restrained  from  lowering  tendencies,  or  their 
massing  alone  from  contributing  to  that  weight  and  result, 


DISCUSSION.  137 

and  their  present  state  recur  to  their  proper  elements  of 
buoyancy  ? 

"The  question  is,  whether,  in  addition  to  and  after  these 
pleasant  social  exchanges,  further  communication  between 
us  is  advisable  —  whether  that  intercourse  shall  be  only 
nominal  or  merely  friendly;  shall  extend  to  assistance  in 
calamity  and  danger,  and  no  further ;  shall  be  a  strained 
relation  of  suspicions,  and  the  profits,  arbitrarily,  that  can 
be  derived  from  the  other;  or  whether  it  is  to  embrace 
every  feature  that  can  contribute  to  the  general  welfare 
from  the  means  and  articles  the  Creator  has  variously 
yet  conjointly  distributed  over  this  earth,  for  our  enjoy- 
ment and  the  balancing  of  our  and  their  powers. 

"The  first  burst  of  sentiment  and  heart-felt  loyalty  says 
the  latter,  of  course — reason  is  never  far  behind  it, 
the  former  being  God's  unlaborious  presentment,  the  lat- 
ter your  exercise  —  and  reflection  says  so  too. 

"My  dear  friends,  there  is  no  doubt  that  you  can  help 
us  —  in  morals  that  is  sufficient  reasoning  for  the  execu- 
tor under  the  will  of  God  and  the  good  of  men  though  the 
beneficiary  may  not,  in  mere  propriety,  urge  it — by  your 
knowledge,  your  connections,  your  resources,  your  possi- 
bilities. You  can  turn  us  and  ours  to  account,  for  our- 
selves—  and  we  think  we  can  be  of  service  to  you,  beyond 
this  beneficial  exercise,  and  beyond  mere  amusement. 
This  is  the  law  of  the  universe. 

"In  our  greater  number  —  because  of  thereby  greater 
circumscribed  opportunities,  I  should  say  more  multifarious 
necessities  draining  on  our  resources  and  curtailing  indi- 
vidual portion — we  appear  to  you  more  solicitous  and  per- 
haps are.  Still,  we  have  our  numbers  in  construction, 
assistance  and  employment  to  offer  you.  Perhaps  we  have 
less  occasion  to  be  selfish,  as  our  vision  has  been  enlarged 
to  abhor  its  baneful  effects.      But  we  assure  you  of  our 


138  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

earnest  good-will,  and  willingness  to  contribute,  numeri- 
cally and  specifically,  in  full  measure  and  as  an  experi- 
ment of  us  if  desired,  to  establish  with  you,  and  the  world, 
our  good  faith.  The  expediency,  the  means  and  degrees 
of  interchange  remain,  solely,  to  be  adjusted. 

"Of  our  resources  you  have  some  adequate  idea;  prob- 
ably, have  discovered  the  dearth  of  improvement,  that  we 
might  well  be  expected  to  have  made  or  be  making,  and 
have  marveled  at  our  ignorance.  We  have  nothing 
approaching  such  contrivance  as  you  here  possess, 
although  no  doubt  we  possess  all  the  means  therefor. 
Oh,  knowledge!  The  facilities  thrust  themselves  at  us; 
but,  we  have  no  comprehension.  We  forcibly  feel  the 
wonderful  existence  of  our  ignorance,  sigh  for  emancipa- 
tion, which,  next  to  the  Heavenly  Power,  can  only  come 
from  contact  and  intercourse  with  the  aggregation  of  the 
people  —  all  of  them  are  necessary  to  the  healthy,  created 
whole-  -outside  of  our  immediate  pale.  Can  there  be  any 
question  of  benefit  for  the  whole  in  every  race,  if  their 
several  peculiar  functions  are  freely  and  rightly  employed  ? 
Improvement  is  thus  in  all  experience  engendered  and 
born,  and  what  troubles  then  arise  are  due  to  the  lack  of 
attention  and  nurture. 

"  We,  in  our  own  people  here,  are  composed  of  several 
nationalities — humble  and  obscure  subjects,  yet  thus 
greatness  exudes — whose  peculiarities  are  known  to  us  by 
some  still  perceptible  traits  that  crop  out  here  and  there, 
despite  the  freest  intermingling  of  blood.  Records  in 
the  history  of  general  blood  lie  not.  Practically  we  know 
no  other  history. 

"  What  we  know,  at  all,  from  an  outside  world  is  tradi- 
tion of  those  first  locating  here  by  mishap,  perpetuated 
by  the  successive  generations,  how  correctly  we  do  not 
know. 


DISCUSSION.  139 

"But,  you  have  opened  possibilities  to  us  —  we  are  like 
a,  newly  discovered  people,  snatched  from  an  incipient 
heathendom.  Think,  how  your  posterity,  your  dearest 
earthly  objects,  might  sink  to  such  a  decline  Where  ? 
Remove  the  locus  by  wisdom  and  design !  Why  did  not 
progress  materially  favor  us  ? 

"  But,  kind  friends,  open  the  ways  for  us  —  we  are  your 
prisoners,  but  not  your  criminals — to  satisfy  the  cravings 
that  disturb  any  rest  within  our  seeking  souls  !  Show  us 
the  possibilities  of  the  earth  —  and  we  will  prove  to  you 
the  glory  of  Heaven  —  mercy  and  gratitude  —  as  you  have 
witnessed  it,  and  we  will  aid  you  in  embellishing  it  as  you 
have  never  even  dreamed;  or  together,  aided  by  the 
mutual  light,  that  we  may  shed  or  invoke,  beaming  with 
the^ladness  thereof  on  earth  and  in  Heaven,  the  divers 
constellations,  we  will  endeavor  to  enlarge  our  visions, 
our  very  stripes  will  become  luminously  light  (<  the  stars 
aud  stripes'),  and  we  shall  comprehend  and  embrace  the 
beauties  and  joys  this  earth  is  certainly  intended  to  con- 
tain for  us,  could  we  perceive.  But  we  must  enbound  it. 
Become  acquainted  with  our  people  and  we  with  yours, 
and,  together,  we  will  search  the  utmost  approachable 
recesses  of  the  earth ;  we  offer  you  ourselves,  for  the 
search,  and  only  ask  that  you  share  the  surplus  with  us, 
which  will  give  us  comfort  and  joy.  Kindly  let  us  hear 
from  you,  and  we  will  add  our  views  on  anything  that  we 
have  inadvertently  omitted,  or  you  may  wish  to  know  from 
us  upon.  No  single  nation  can  ever  prosper  —  unless  it 
embraces  the  world !  " 

He  sat  down,  and  we  were  so  astonished  by  his  unex- 
pected quality  of  discourse,  that  we  remained  silent 
wrapped  in  awe  by  the  grand  spectacle  of  this  eloquent, 
earnest  old  man,  growing  grand  and  luminous,  until  his 
visage  was  one,  either  of  fascinating  attraction  or  terrible 


140  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

glow,  according  to  the  beholder,  but  with  the  evident  light 
of  truth.  He  pled  the  human  cause  as  the  result  of  his 
almost  unaided  reflections.  Contemporaneous  observation 
and*the  meager,  unintelligible  accounts  sifted  down  to 
him  accreted  with  much  foreign  stuff  left  him,  still,  unself- 
ishly to  plead  for  the  unbiased  elevation  of  the  human 
race.  He  regarded  the  means  with  an  entirely  different 
motive  —  by  which,  otherwise,  selfishly,  so  much  doom  has 
been  wrought.  His  remedy  for  the  ardors,  cravings, 
yearnings,  of  the  soul  was  knowledge — not  of  good  and 
evil,  but  the  former  to  eschew  the  latter;  this  was  not  as 
remarkable  as  the  suggestion,  that  inferentially  the  human 
races  had  a  common,  mutually  comprehensive  role,  from 
the  many,  seemingly  incongruous  parts  to  conclude  practi- 
cally to  a  happy  whole.  Was  this  abstract,  unbrylled 
philosophy  ? 

I  slightly  turned  to  Mr.  Bertram,  as  though  to  call  upon 
him  to  express  the  considerations  of  our  little  colony ; 
which  movement  he  understood,  and  gravely  arose,  deep 
in  thought,  as  though  a  field  of  new  ideas  had  unfolded 
itself  to  him.  His  fine  physique  contrasted  with  the 
somewhat  small  body  of  the  old  judge,  and  his  large,  well- 
shaped  head  and  lofty  brow  gave  him  a  majestic  appear- 
ance, from  which  fairly  beamed  and  glowed  the  benignity 
of  a  virtuous  life. 

Ah !  vicious  visionaries  of  maid  or  man 
Within  your  countenances,  which  to  scan 
Gleam  fearful  names. 

"Friends,"  he  said,  "we  have  hearkened  to  a  grand 
exposition  of  what  the  books  and  the  outside  world  evi- 
dently call  unselfishness,  as  touched  upon  by  the  honor- 
able and  venerable  speaker.  In  our  midst  we  know  or 
knew  nothing  of  those  things  that  seem  to  disrupt  all  the 


DISCUSSION.  141 

so  highly  desirable  relations  of  the  human  family,  except 
as  some  vague,  hardly  understood  rumors  were  handed 
down  to  us,  or  we  read;  but  hearing  does  not  approach 
feeling,  and  since  here,  for  the  first  time,  we  have  seen  a 
multitude  of  people,  whom  we  could  not  but  esteem  as 
something  different  and  unknown  to  us,  in  our  image  but 
to  be  regarded  as  strangers  and  without  familiar  friendli- 
ness or  relation  —  here,  for  the  first  time,  dawned  upon  us 
the  friction  of  such  contact  —  practice  and  history  speak- 
ing together  seem  to  us  at  present  but  poor  instructors  for 
emulation.  We  have  had  our  natural  foibles,  but  not 
acquired  vicissitudes. 

"  At  this  period,  when  we  have  heard  so  much,  already, 
of  the  anxieties  to  which  one  is  to  be  exposed  by  becoming 
a  part  of  the  world,  their  divisions,  subdivisions,  and  indi- 
viduals —  and,  on  the  other  hand,  can  ponder  upon,  from 
experience,  the  stress  of  solitude  or  circumscribed  associa- 
tion, and  the  lack  of  those  productions,  evolutions  of  the 
necessities  of  numerous  co-inhabitants — what  a  perplexity 


is  ours 


"Cowardice  would  turn  back  —  only  to  pine  for  the 
opportunities  missed.  Something  urges  on  to  the  mystic 
fray — perhaps  to  save  some  souls  with  the  new  vigor  in 
the  battle.  Conscience  and  thought  are  not  reprehensible 
and  fear  no  doom ;  doubts  enfeeble  the  constitution  and 
quake,  that  the  inmost  impulses  lose  the  purity  they  might 
purvey.  In  expressing  an  astoundment,  pardon  me,  my 
dear  friends,  we  would  rather  not  have  spoken,  but 
yielded  to  your  urgent  requests  as  a  requital  for  your  gen- 
erosity. We  wish  calmly  to  review  the  situation,  you 
bestow  caution  upon  it,  although  you  sigh;  we  have 
unequivocal  confidence  in  you.  Would  you  betray  that, 
we  should  acquire  a  new  insight  into  the  workings  of  the 
heart  though  not  our  own  versions  of  its  functions,  for  the 


142  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

natural  developments  in  us  have  not  led  us  that  way  or 
to  such  considerations.  I  do  not  desire  to  dwell  on  the 
sadness  of  life,  nor  do  I  yield  to  morose  tendencies,  but 
clearly  onward  there  is  a  light,  success,  with  a  little  rub- 
bish in  the  way,  which  I  push  aside  with  my  foot,  and 
proceed  to  the  goal.  Our  natural  necessities  seem  to  be 
supplied,  excepting  such  as  appertain  to  the  spirit ;  these 
desire  variation  to  fulfill  their  destiny,  because  the  means 
therefor  have  been  placed  here  unmistakably  for  their  use, 
and  they  have  a  right  to  yearn  for  their  own.  And  yet  not 
all  of  the  physical  wants  are  supplied,  either,  since  the 
different  localities  must  produce  several  articles,  distinctly 
and  really  required  even  by  our  physical  conditions. 

"We,  you"  (bowing  to  the  judges)  "and  ourselves,  differ 
from  the  Secretary  in  that  we  deplore  the  lack  of  opportu- 
nity, in  being  deprived  of  the  numbers  and  the  expansion 
incidental  thereto  and  the  receiving  of  new  ideas ;  whilst 
the  Secretary  laments  a  narrowness  of  sentiment  in  multi- 
plied restriction,  the  over-crowding  of  populace,  and 
deplores  the  struggle,  that  ensues  for  existence  in  the 
inadequate  circumferences  insisted  by  their  practices  to  be 
maintained  as  sole  ends  and  means ;  on  the  one  hand  is 
the  solitude,  from  which  it  is  sought  to  escape;  on  the 
other,  the  oppression  of  being  too  closely  crowded; 
between  the  two  is  the  salutary  mean  at  which  both 
should  meet,  and,  working  thence,  reap  the  undoubtedly 
happy  results  of  all  equilibrium.  We  have  not  yet  learned 
to  regard  everyone  with  suspicion,  nor  does  it  seem  intel- 
ligible to  me  that  selfishness  is  a  wise  course,  as,  creating 
suspicion,  it  exposes  every  individual  to  constant  warfare 
and  doubt  even  in  things  of  good;  neither  do  I  behold  in 
it  the  elements  of  prudence,  or  of  even  temporary  profit, 
since  I  cannot  conceive  that  one  in  such  acquired  condition 
could  lead  a  practical,  feasible  life.     Self-protection  and 


DISCUSSION.  143 

grasping  are  opposite  elements,  and  the  former  would  be 
unheard  of  but  for  the  latter,  for  what  care  nature  involves 
is  but  in  its  ordinary,  self-regulated  concern,  a  pleasure  to 
accede  to;  but  it  is  wilful  human  agency  that  consciously 
and  maliciously  disrupts,  without  any  self-explainable 
reason,  the  regularity  of  affairs. 

"  Our  colony,  each  individual  thereof,  is  individually  our- 
selves ;  would  one  starve  or  perish  or  suffer,  that  the  other 
could,  in  the  susceptibility  of  his  complete  nature,  forego 
the  sharing  of  the  mishap  ?  It  is  incomprehensible  to  me, 
that  I  could  shield  myself  and  see  one  of  them  lost,  but, 
my  impulse,  my  judgment,  my  esteem  and  consideration 
would  place  me  at  their  side  to  combat  jointly  the  threat- 
ened danger.  What  could  induce  otherwise?  Wrong 
inflicted  by  me.  Whence  this  wrong  ?  From  a  mistaken 
judgment,  and  bad  judgment  arises  from  mysterious  con- 
jectures and  false  experiments  not  natural  impulses. 
Though,  from  the  heart  spring  evil  designs,  in  the  even 
temperament,  elevation  and  tireless  tendency  of  the  soul  in 
its  struggle  for  its  destiny  is  always  the  prime  impetus  for 
good.  This  is  the  highest  and  only  implanted  law,  marred 
solely,  and  eternally  injured  by  gradual,  total  suppression. 

"While  with  you,  my  honorable  judge,  thought  has  con- 
cerned affairs  temporal,  we  have  principally  wandered  in 
spiritual  realms,  since  temporal  affairs  did  not  disturb  our 
tranquillity;  our  brows  are  unclouded,  since  by  the  spiritual 
food  Ave  acquired  the  most  necessary  parts  of  our  nature 
from  God's  unquestionable  store ;  not  till  we  hear  of  these 
things  of  which  you  inform  us,  did  we  know  how  happy 
we  were,  by  comparison  —  not  an  aristocracy  of  happiness, 
but  a  pitying  soul,  to  which  pain  and  suffering  are  more 
manifest  than  to  the  reality.  That  the  fisherman  should 
drag  his  net,  the  laborer  dig,  we  esteem  pleasures  and  rec- 
reations, not  hardships;   but  when  the  spirit  is  made  to 


144  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

suffer  thereby  from  scoffing  of  other  persons  —  as  long  as 
ignorance  or  superstition  or  brute  force  can  maintain  these 
shackles,  the  distinctions  of  the  social  scale,  then  the  real 
evil  becomes  apparent.  How  it  does  grieve  one  to  hear  of 
these  conditions  —  how  it  must  yoke  those  who  feel  them 
— but  onward,  we  will  share  your  doom,  shall  endeavor  to 
distribute  to  you  of  the  stock  God  has  given  us ;  must 
learn  your  sorrows,  perhaps,  but  our  principles  forbid  us 
to  eschew  you,  our  natures  bid  you  welcome. 

"We  will  throw  open  to  you  our  ports  and  our  enter- 
prises ;  we  will  exchange  opinions  and  products,  and  form 
a  coalition  with  you  against  the  only  enemy  of  mankind's 
welfare :  a  besotted,  sordid,  benighted  mind,  with  its  indo- 
lence and  intentional  perversity.  The  multitude  must  not 
tolerate  the  viperous  individual  —  or  with  the  scorn  that 
withers  he  will  grow  and  multiply.  The  commonalty 
must  be  very  defective  in  the  existence  of  misery,  and  I 
venture  the  so-called  honorable  are  the  most  depraved, 
with  or  without  religious  guise,  or  the  things  would  not  be. 
For,  whither  the  head  turns  the  eyes  may  look  —  possess- 
ing, individuals  necessarily  wield  for  good  or  evil.  Incul- 
cate thorough  intolerance  of  vice,  which  seed  will  again 
rear  the  physical  and  mental  man.  Contemplation  can 
discern  happiness  far  off  —  reach  out  to  it,  reach  out  to 
it  —  and,  we  welcome  you  to  us." 

Mr.  Bertram  sat  down,  and  his  shining  example  of 
human  disposition  unmarred  by  the  sickening  flaws  of 
civilization  was  enthusiastically  received,  especially  by 
the  judges,  who  hung  on  every  word  as  it  was  slowly, 
distinctly  uttered,  appreciating  every  sentiment;  for  the 
first  time  learning  that  pure  thoughts  the  world  over  are 
without  distinction,  as  they  could  so  well  themselves 
understand  the  workings  of  the  human  heart.  The  speak- 
er's cordial  invitation  to  them  to  participate  with  them  in 


DISCUSSION.  145 

their  joint  affairs  filled  them  with  great  emotion,  the 
more  as  the  speaker  seemed  to  comprehend  that  their 
hitherto  happy  tranquillity  might  be  disturbed  or  agitated 
by  the  elements  of  deterioration  the  preceding  speaker  had 
outlined  as  existing  in  their  more  multifarious  midst.  That 
true  manhood  and  humanity  uttered  itself,  and  most  nearly 
fulfilled  the  destiny  of  its  origin,  there  could  be  no  doubt; 
the  selfishness  he  descried  and  discriminated  could  not  be 
laid  in  any  part  to  his  charge,  since  the  most  deliberate 
humane  reasoning  explained  his  conclusions. 

All  now  turned  to  me,  and  the  task  imposed  upon  me, 
in  view  of  the  preludes  and  the  expected  solutions  of 
many  practical  problems  that  now  presented  themselves, 
filled  me  with  a  little  quaking  of  fear  so  that  I  too  might 
have  fled  in  the  first  trepidation  of  the  august  moment; 
greatness  is  not  as  much  appreciated  when  thrust  upon  us. 
I  had  been  so  wrapt  in  their  discussions,  that  I  had  not 
thought  for  myself,  being  entirely  unprepared  for  the 
surprise  of  their  handling  of  these  topics.  Still  I  managed 
to  catch  enough  of  the  fervency  and  realize  the  import- 
ance of  the  occasion  and  the  prospects  before  us,  to  be 
keenly  alive  to  what  might  be  expected,  and  to  formulate, 
as  well  as  the  time  admitted,  the  circumstances  with  which 
I  had  formerly  been  familiar  or  at  all  acquainted.  The 
mind  may  be  very  active,  when  an  urgent  concatenation 
draws  it  into  severe  conclusions,  as  you  all  know.  Under 
such  scrutinizing  expectation  as  Avas  now  directed  to  me, 
such  pleading  confidence,  attention  and  solicitation,  I 
almost  trembled  like  a  schoolboy. 

"Kindest  of  people  and  noblest  of  friends,"  I  began, 
"there  is  system  in  everything;  somewhere,  somehow,  in 
some  degree,  within  this  world,  there  exists  that  alterna- 
tive for  everyone  of  good  and  evil,  and  the  worst,  most 
debased  of  criminals,  natural  or  from  any  acquired  cause, 


146  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

in  his  or  her  appropriate  situation,  would  be  so  docile,  so 
honorable,  as  to  grace  the  very  best  of  mankind.  The  lack 
is  misapplication  to  the  proper  turns  of  affairs.  The 
woman  is  not  complete  in  her  happy  nature,  until  the  man 
has  been  accorded  to  her  companionship  and  the  two 
together  form  the  mutual  partnership,  physical  and  men- 
tal, as  well  as,  more  remotely,  spiritual,  for  their  common 
elevation  and  the  welfare  of  mankind.  What  errors  mar 
this  principle  of  perfect  unity,  or  the  benefit  from  inter- 
communication of  true  parts  under  naturally  proper  condi- 
tions, are  those  of  ignorance,  wilful  disregard,  and  violent, 
useless,  silly  experiments.  Spirituality  requires  no  great 
or  any  show.  Its  grandeur  is  manifested  by  itself  and 
annihilates  merely  temporal  affairs.  It  is  best  judged  by 
its  simplicity  —  not  the  mere  assumption  thereof  but  its 
act.  The  greatest  nonentity  with  possible  potence  is  soci- 
ety's taste,  to  act  without  detection  its  test  and  creed. 
Envy  dogs  its  every  footstep,  hence  it  welcomes  hypocrisy. 

"A  symbol  or  an  endeavor  is  vacant,  that  does  not  with 
a  sensitive  elevation  raise  therefrom  the  elements  of 
discord  that  surround  the  unfortunate  mass.  Many 
thoughts  pass  in  a  moment ;  but  ideas  nourish,  when  the 
incidents  have  connected  into  a  complete  chain  of  trans- 
mission in  which  the  vastness  of  the  envelopment  and  con- 
course have  been  regarded.  By  this  the  system  becomes 
freed  from  the  dross  of  neglect  and  the  uniform  propulsion 
is  satisfied. 

"  Adverting  to  recent  incidents,  kind  friends,  do  not  fail 
to  read  aright  the  appearances  of  regret  or  of  wilful  ani- 
mosity. The  sensibilities  of  a  vague  effort  are  not  aroused 
by  idly  cringing  to  local  conduct  or  experience,  frequently, 
heretofore,  expressed  in  pitiful  moanings  of  the  spirit. 
Many  days  ago,  when  on  the  verge  of  despair,  the  turmoil 
of  affairs  and  the  recollection  of  it,  aroused  a  spirit  of  ani- 


DISCUSSION.  147 

mation  to  resist  the  anarchy  that  was  fast  displaying  its 
tentative  fascinations  for  the  evanescent  faculties.  But, 
with  the  recurring  light,  the  possibilities  of  hope  and 
the  cheerfulness  of  a  reunited,  feasible  effort  revived  the 
the  desires.  How  silently  the  factors  move  the  insight 
into  these  seeming  mysteries  and  carefully  progress  it 
over  the  uneven  ground.  This  is  no  greater  than  the 
power  of  expression,  which,  if  it  fails,  is  a  blame  to  the 
incipiency  of  signs  ;  but  the  spirit,  the  heart,  the  mind, 
will  ever  contend  within  their  limits.  Enlisted  for  years 
in  the  patient,  suffering  tranquillities  of  nature,  the  arrival 
is  at  the  portal  of  discernment  or  despair.  Heeding  the 
quivering,  seething,  undulating  mass  there  is  no  stop,  no 
enclosing  the  elements  of  corruption;  but  they  must  be 
purged,  ejected  through  their  natural  channels. 

"  I  shall  pass  to  a  consideration  of  our  temporal  affairs 
with  the  premise  that  no  individual  lacks  the  power  to 
succeed  him  or  herself  in  the  little  discriminations  which 
fill  the  additionals  of  our  lives.  There  is  no  unbiased 
estimation  of  a  deliberation  or  a  dilemma  to  estivate  a 
happy  existence.  The  interloekings  of  life  are  unloosened 
or  strengthened  according  to  the  .existing  exigencies. 
Wearily  you  drag  or  rush  on  the  path  of  necessary  recti- 
tude or  lovingly  linger  in  the  rouged  light  of  momentary 
bliss,  the  effluvescent  tendencies  and  exhibitions  indicate 
the  decay  of  the  firm  matter  and  strong  fibers  of  your 
character  and  accord  their  sustenance.  The  undoubtedly 
erroneous  flourish  for  a  time  in  your  regard  and  neglectful 
privilege ;  sometimes  your  forbearance,  patience,  construed 
by  them  into  right ;  your  necessity,  sometimes  their  deliv- 
erance :  but  the  laws  can  manifestly  only  favor  right  and 
leave  their  untrammeled  enjoyments  for  a  time  in  wrong 
only  in  consideration  of  the  burdens  of  right  to  be  crushed 
by  curtailment  of,  or  their  intrepid  contrivings. 


148  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

"You  have  never  felt  a  desire  for  mal-administration ; 
you  do  not  yearn  for  direful  adventure ;  when  aspects 
are  murky,  you  do  not  rush  to  individually  established 
gods  of  meager  taste  and  false  ideas :  but,  the  fountains, 
the  flood-gates  of  your  sorrows  pour  forth  anathemas,  and 
you  cry  aloud,  fiercely  piercing  the  wild  storm  of  your 
emotions,  that  the  Power  that  superintends  and  wields  a 
mighty  destroying  influence  over  all  constructures,  has 
again  sped  a  menacing  distress  into  the  realms  of  bliss. 
Obliged  to  tranquillity  in  commotion,  enthralled  every 
moment  in  painful  anxiety,  the  endeavor  strives  to  grasp 
the  illimitable  in  its  frenzied  efforts  to  perceive  beyond  its 
narrowed  prevision.  Fearfully  it  racks  every  constituent 
of  power,  delves  in  the  bowels  of  woe  for  a  bated  seclu- 
sion, thrives  on  the  disgusts  of  conventionalities  until  the 
ingrediencies  of  conception  are  exhausted,  when  the  throt- 
tled, gasping  victim  expires  a  burden  of  an  impoverished 
.load.  This  is  the  wail  of  wrong.  The  meager  details 
revolve  about  the  firmly  implanted  stake,  that  thwarts 
every  effort  to  remove  it,  holding  relentlessly  to  the 
bounden  fetters,  which,  too,  refuse  to  yield  their  duress  or 
to  transplant  into  other  sordid  fields.  The  pasture  is  that 
of  selected  grace  and  none  other.  Thus,  the  development 
of  an  inner  grossness  supplies  a  care-worn  field  in  the 
sterility  of  production,  which,  again,  dwindles  to  a  dead 
exhibition  of  withered  hopes  and  dreaded  expectations.  A 
cant  comes  to  the  rescue  and  describes  the  votaries  at  the 
stake  as  victims  of  an  unbegotten  cause  and  furnishes  even 
unseemly  bier-holders  in  their  excoriating  anguish. 

One   single  thought   with   which   they  wildly   guile  their 

feverish  hours 
Is    sometimes    more    there    fraught    with    sad,    regretted 

plight, 
Than  burdens  millions  upon  millions  of  true  toils ; 


DISCUSSION.  149 

In  no  event  but  all  is  such  mere  gloss 

Spread  ten  times  o'er  by  envy's  thoughtless  task. 

"How  severely  doubts  enter  into  your  lives  is  shown  by 
the  repeated  vain  declarations  of  undue  distinction;  the 
struggling  tender  to  each  other  of  a  trifling  share  of  the 
fruits  of  one's  own  spoiled  energy,  for  a  return  that  cannot 
be  measured  but  by  the  discontent  of  the  ungratified 
desires.  There  is  no  escaping  the  conclusion,  that  the  evil 
of  intent  is  not  beggared  by  the  developments  of  the  sin- 
ner ;  he  fosters  every  thought  and  transcends  every  deed, 
'  that  not  an  impulse  of  detriment  is  allowed  to  escape  in 
his  perverted  construction  of  obligation.  Could  he  envel- 
ope this  world  with  an  inflexible  band  of  flinchless  steel, 
he  woidd  feel  inclined  to  encircle  it  with  his  desires.  The 
evil  of  these  contentions,  the  destruction  of  the  simpler 
allotments  to  each  individual  part,  have  turned  affairs  into 
a  chaos,  until  not  even  the  heedful  know  each  and  every 
discrimination  to  be  made  in  time. 

"What  is  duty?  Not  the  sole  thrift  for  individual  use; 
but  heeding  in  the  upward,  onward  steps  to  the  goal  an 
extended  reach  to  take  along  all,  who  will  not  successfully 
struggle  to  escape.  By  this  precaution  is  supplied  with 
the  strength  of  surrounding  good  parts,  brave  deeds  and 
noble  friendships,  and  exposure  of  the  bad  and  protection 
of  the  weak,  despite  that  now  and  then  a  traitor  recedes, 
which  will  be  solely  to  his  own  detriment. 

"The  differences  of  the  several  concerns  of  life  contrive 
themselves  into  so  many  worshiping  follies,  that  the  mind 
is  overwhelmed  by  the  abstract  delineations ;  perhaps, 
when  the  glories  of  achievement  have  fallen  at  your  rest- 
less feet,  in  a  moment,  plunged  into  the  intricacies  of  a 
further  discernment,  the  gloom  appears  greater  than  before 
because   of   the   little    dazzling   light   that   has   suddenly 


150  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

shed  its  beams  where  the  refractory  powers  were  least 
developed.  That  brilliance  should  emanate  from  the  out- 
reaching  and  over-reaching  between  two  destructive,  per- 
nicious agencies,  is  one  of  those  strange  facts  that  throw 
the  whole  into  that  impenetrable  gloom  from  which  it  can- 
not evolve  itself.  It  is  visibly  affecting,  that  affairs  for 
better  are  blocked  by  the  unwillingness  of  practice  to  be 
purged  of  its  hardships  as  though  life  depends  on  con- 
troversy and  not  on  real  needs. 

"  Lastly,  not  a  sigh  is  breathed  that  is  not  borne  into  its 
realm  of  discreet  consideration.  Could  anyone  doubt  that 
a  grief-stricken,  woe-begotten  heart  could  escape  its  griev- 
ous impulses,  such  a  one  would  fear  to  attempt  to  pene- 
trate the  causes  that  led  thereto ;  such  a  one  would  not 
tread  with  benign  confidence  the  mazes  of  dread  and 
despair,  or  dare  to  asseverate  that  the  ends  of  all  justice 
meted  to  the  wandering  creatures  any  measure  of  redress. 
The  unequivocal  effort  indulges  in  no  such  fallacy,  the 
tireless  ardor  of  the  soul  knows  no  security  of  favor  nor 
yields  a  moment  to  such  misanthropy  until  overwhelmed 
by  agencies  which  subdue  it  to  their  course.  The  hour 
reckons  this  one  the  hero,  the  mighty  premier,  who  has 
once  more  agitated  the  main  for  a  new  bearing  billoA\r  of  a 
scene  upon  its  angry  crest  —  shortly  dashed  asunder  and 
gone  except  a  little  moisture  and  spray  to  soak  in  or 
evaporate.  A  few  more  faint  regards  and  the  power  of 
endurance  will  break.  Soon  the  esteemed  ambition  of 
hopes  will  have  dwarfed  into  the  significance  of  aroused 
resentment  to  vile  encroachment.  In  an  hour  the  devel- 
opment of  a  life  may  grow  naught;  a  gentle  whisper 
turn  the  tides  of  any  intended  flood  of  thoughts;  but,  the 
reverence  due  to  God  is  fruitful. 

"  Experiments  are  right  or  falsely  represented  to  delude 
into  unwariness  or  attempts  to  gratify  a  mistaken  direc- 


DISCUSSION.  151 

tion  by  blending  affectation  of  the  belief  of  the  useful 
with  dread  of  exposure  of  the  faultful.  Genius  may  come 
or  be  the  result  of  wild  dreams;  but,  when  its  benign 
influence  is  felt  the  little  scoffers  seek  to  array  themselves 
along  the  potent  factors.  Hence,  that  the  progress  of 
affairs  is  not  more  systematical.  False  hopes  of  a  vainly 
glorious  age ! 

"You  will  now  extend  your  commerce  and  perchance 
your  domain ;  you  will  seek  to  rival  your  neighbors,  then 
to  exceed  them  —  your  young  vigor  will  attract  and  go  out, 
and  will  be  your  excuse  for  ignorance  and  arrogance  alike. 
You  will  not  hesitate  to  thrust  upon  your  new  neighbors, 
or  cast  against  them  the  improbabilities  of  the  existence  of 
another  reckoning  power,  than  your  own  judgments ;  thus, 
the  fallacies  of  life  will  repeat  themselves,  as  they  have 
recurred  for  ages  before.  An  extension  is  made  to  you  of 
gratitude  and  gradual  endeavor ;  you  are  not  supposed  to 
comprehend  the  former  or  abuse  the  latter ;  you  are  led 
into  a  sphere,  where  the  elements  alike  and  facts  and  fig- 
ures favor  every  vagary,  that  may  infest  the  idle  fancy. 
If  you  are  prepared  to  face  with  intrepid  courage  and  skill 
the  inevitable  results  of  a  social  contest  for  a  fitful  eleva- 
tion, you  have  chosen  the  realm  of  man  for  your  warfare. 
A  few  considerations  will  thwart  or  discourage  your  inten- 
tions. What  is  the  polity  of  sovereign  benediction  ?  Do 
you  contemplate,  in  the  unfolding  fields  of  enterprise 
which  stretch  before  you,  the  objects  of  usefulness  that 
cry  to  you  to  raise  them  to  their  proper  levels  ? 

"Despair  not;  mankind  is  not  hopelessly  lost.  Trended 
in  part  that  way,  it  has  been  unscrupulously  swayed.  But 
an  element  is  growing,  developing,  that  will  no  longer 
grovel  before  a  few  depraved  assumptions  of  mankind  to 
abject  all  the  conscience  and  every  instinct  of  generosity 
to  less  than  a  beastly  level.     With   that  more   powerful 


152  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

factor  the  unmitigatingly  unfortunate  cannot  stem  the 
tide;  but,  a  pitying  provision  will  have  for  them  an 
asylum  with  the  predominating  pure  impulses  and  the 
feeble  conditions  of  our  nature  will  yield  to  faithful, 
patient  attribution  and  attrition  to  an  elevating  power  and 
to  the  prayer  of  a  saving  grace. 

"Extend  yourselves,  spread  over  the  contiguous  terri- 
tories, and  know  no  stay  to  your  virtuous  endeavors  save 
the  sleep  to  waft  you  into  silence  and  bliss,  whither 
thoughts  may  hie  with  burdens;  but  whence  they  return 
not  laden. 

"Your  estimation  will  be  the  appreciation  of  results,  and 
a  few  firm  resolutions  to  abide  the  evidences  of  principle 
will  invest  themselves  properly  and  necessarily  in  your 
prospects. 

"  The  measure  of  your  interchange  of  values : 

"Can  you,  restricted  to  yourselves,  produce  everything 
necessary  for  happiness  and  welfare  ?  If  so,  your  limits 
need  not  be  broken,  unless  humanity  on  the  outside  cries 
to  you  for  help  —  then  you  cannot  be  happy  within,  with- 
out being  brutal. 

"  A  few  leagues  hence  lies  the  domain  of  this  handful  of 
people,  compared  with  you  in  numbers,  as  a  drop  in  a 
bucketful  of  water;  yet,  possessing  an  area  of  territory 
utterly  useless,  excepting  in  a  trifling  part  to  the  whole, 
for  any  and  all  of  their  purposes.  You  have  more  than 
ample  territory,  yet,  for  all  of  your  concerns,  but  you  lack 
the  knowledge  to  properly  develop  your  resources,  and 
therefore  are  in  want  where  there  is  wasted  superabund- 
ance. Still  you  esteem  yourselves  in  want  of  more 
improved  territory,  labor  and  possession,  when  your  own 
is  more  than  ample,  while  my  friends  here,  still  more 
primitive,  desire  your  company.  But  you  have  no  advance- 
ment in  this  alone,  as  their  small  additional  labor  would  not 


DISCUSSION.  153 

contribute  materially  to  any  development  of  your  resources, 
while  their  attraction  of  your  populace  would  diminish 
your  force  and  but  raise  them  to  your  level.  Then  you  do 
not  stop  there ;  the  first  step  is  proper,  provided  you 
intend  and  do  carry  the  matter  farther,  otherwise  you  will 
be  more  happy  to  remain  as  you  were  discovered,  with  a 
request  not  to  be  discovered  again ;  as  to  foist  new  ideas 
upon  either  of  you  will  be  but  to  entail  the  labor  of 
learning  them  with  no  valuable  consequences,  unless 
the  sequences  naturally  are  observed.  One  will  suffer 
more  than  the  other  by  unequal  advantages,  which  will 
rebound  against  the  latter;  and,  finally,  causes  for  strife, 
on  each  side,  will  develop,  all  traceable  to  folly  in  its 
origin.  Thus,  you  may  have  ignorance  in  the  lack  of 
certain  knowledge,  which  latter  you  must  unearth.  There 
the  advantage  of  your  present  union  becomes  manifest — ■ 
increase  of  territory,  kinds  of  resources  you  combinedly 
have  understood  and  exhausted  and  now  deplore  as  a 
dearth.  In  your  blind  visions  you  have  not  observed 
your  teeming  opportunities ;  but,  a  combination  of  you 
will  enlarge  your  comparisons.  New  mental  faculties 
bring  renewed  considerations  and  you  have  further 
starting-points  nearer  to  desired  discoveries.  Not  at  all 
foreign  to  the  general  principle  I  may  shed  such  light  in 
my  power,  when  the  doctrine  enunciates,  that  different 
frictions  are  caused  by  new  contacts  and  additional  advan- 
tages adduced  as  every  discovery  is  of  something  good  by 
the  great  Creator. 

"Now  then,  having  embarked  upon  the  search  for  knowl- 
edge as  the  requisite  to  be  sought  for  your  necessities  and 
enjoyments,  we  will  take  it,  that  we  have  together  discov- 
ered another,  a  savage  country  where  dangers  threaten  us, 
but  with  our  advanced  appliances,  we  hold  their  onslaught 
at  bay  until  we  can  parley  with  them,  or  awe  them  suf- 


154  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

iiciently  with  our  greater  prowess  to  win  their  fear  and 
respect.  What  benefit  is  this  to  us  and  to  them  ?  I 
will  express  my  opinion. 

"You  see,  at  a  glance,  these  savages  need  the  benefit  of 
your  contact  for  their  improvement ;  if  not,  then  you  had 
better  adopt  their  modes,  for  undoubtedly  there  is  a  choice 
in  favor  of  one  or  the  other;  but  better,  there  is  certainly  a 
measure  of  benefit  to  be  derived  by  each.  Topographi- 
cally, they  also  have  some  resources  that  you  have  not, 
others  that  you  have  exhausted,  and  you  are  like  a  man 
renewed  in  his  energies  by  a  sure,  ample  restocking  of  his 
stores ;  never  fear,  in  true  virtue,  you  have  ample  to 
exchange  with  for  what  has  no  value  to  them, 
because  of  the  superabundance  of  that  particular  kind, 
whereas  they  have  exhausted  or  have  not  certain  things, 
that  will  add  much  to  their  real,  enlightened  delights  in 
life  and  spiritual  elevation,  as  well.  Then,  you  are  nearer 
to  other  discoveries,  because,  on  the  expedition  we  are  on, 
knowledge,  idleness  is  not  encouragable ;  also,  we  may 
have  approached  nearer  civilization. 

"You  proceed  and  you  now  arrive  at  my  old  country. 
Imagine  the  curiosity,  in  the  present  condition  of  affairs, 
you  would  excite !  I,  myself,  could  not  escape  therefrom, 
being  become  in  such  lapse  of  time  rusty  and  out  of  style. 
You  come  to  a  nation  whence  every  source  of  knowledge, 
that  is  ascertainable  in  this  world,  can  be  reached.  It  was, 
originally,  the  most  enlightened  aggregation  and  govern- 
ment of  people  ever  assembled  together;  selfishness  was 
nought,  and  what  measures  of  circumclusion  were  adopted 
were  merely  temporary  efforts  of  desperate  resistance, 
adopted  as  a  desperate  extreme,  not  to  be  maintained. 
Tending  to  liberality,  which  reaches  out  to  enlightenment 
and  prosperity,  lighting  the  way  ahead  for  itself  by  its 
own  luminosity,  it  proves  the  glorious  power  of  example, 


DISCUSSION.  155 

and  the  happiness  it  brings  with  it.  What  it  has  barred 
herein  is  only  by  its  own  restrictions  to  foster  a  few  selfish 
interests  within  its  bowels,  whence  its  excruciating  pains, 
to  be  met  by  necessary  purgative  or  result  in  death. 

"  In  search  of  indolence  foster  protection  and  vice ! 
Never  before  were  the  wisdom  of  past  ages  and  their 
knowledge  handed  down  as  to  us  —  to  employ  their  virtues 
and  shun  their  vices.  In  the  crucible  of  aroused  indigna- 
tion the  oppression  of  humanity  by  man  was  crushed  and 
consumed  by  the  burning  shame  it  had  engendered.  The 
votaries  of  oppression  have  always  exercised  the  excluding 
dignity  of  high  protection  by  government.  A  sovereign 
does  not  want  another  admitted  free  —  but  the  idea  of  a 
sovereign  people  is  a  myth  where  exclusion  one  against 
the  other  is  practiced. 

"  If  you  wish  to  quell  tyrants,  encourage  competition, 
their  mutual  devouring  will  be  your  salvation  the  world 
over.  Our  country  had  mapped  out  the  most  enlightened 
way  to  emancipation.  Do  they  again  want  high  protec- 
tion, that  fosters  sovereigns  and  ignobles  ?  There  is  a 
world-wide  bond  of  sympathy  between  the  people,  between 
whom  every  contact  is  jealously  guarded  by  those  who 
exempt  themselves  from  their  common  struggles.  Palaces 
are  reared  on  the  ashes  of  cottages  to  make  room  —  groans 
are  not  unmusical  to  some  ears. 

"  The  imaginary  lines  of  boundaries  are  but  to  rear  so 
many  ambitions  and  put  on  violent  commotion  and  destruc- 
tion in  heated  cauldrons  so  many  confined  quantities. 
A  range  for  distribution  provides  the  only  means  of 
escape.  People's  minds  as  their  products  must  travel  — 
the  constrained  family  habitude  or  intellect  does  not  mani- 
fest the  glories  of  man's  nature. 

"  Those  who  most  zealously  guard  protected  industries, 
because  of  their  direct  benefits  are  personally  the  rampant 


156  TIIE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

free-traders — those  very  products,  their  means,  are  lav- 
ished any  and  everywhere  upon  any  enterprise  and  for 
every  pleasure.  The  life-blood,  that  is  confined  in  the 
victim,  when  at  length  drawn  at  pleasure  for  use  or  vice 
versa  is  freely  spread  over  the  world  —  to  distribute  its 
stench  perhaps.  A  foundation  laid  in  God  in  not  the 
pretended  but  avowed  principles  scrapes  the  contents  of 
the  earth  to  its  bowels.  Everything  thrusts  itself  in  the 
way  for  use,  benefit,  and  the  spiritual  emancipation  recog- 
nizes and  hails  enough  wisdom  to  allow  the  dormant 
powers  to  become  known. 

"Willingness  and  not  ability,  instruction  in  the  place  of 
ignorance,  are  the  wholesome  lessons  to  share  with  true 
hospitality  the  unavoidable  rewards,  the  humble,  diffident, 
but  true  proffering  of  the  best  of  each.  Thus,  in  the 
double,  laudable  object  to  open  ports,  the  noble,  elevating 
attributes  of  human  nature  are  gained,  assistance  and 
knowledge  fnlfilled,  and  society  and  zest  for  life  created. 
In  short,  free  to  the  world,  permitted  and  then  accorded, 
Christian  here  and  everywhere,  is  there  a  wrong  to  be 
recorded,  a  hate  to  be  engendered?  Christianity  not 
practicable  - —  then  abolishable ! 

•<  The  liberality,  which  is  none  at  all  at  best  but  a  plain 
duty  to  self  and  mankind,  spoken  of,  creates  friends  and 
coadjutors,  unavoidably.  By  this  means  alone  distress 
is  abridged.  The  great  luminary  searches  into  the  small- 
est penetrable  corners  of  the  universe.  Retardation  is 
the  restriction  of  conscience  and  good  science :  poisonous 
remedies  are  better  antidotes,  than  nourishment. 

"Xo  government  should  foster  a  single  condition;  if 
industry  or  general  folly  bring  elevation  or  grief,  the 
merits  or  punishment  are  therein.  Government  should 
not  interfere  with  the  natural  rights  or  contracts  thereof. 
Being  no  crime  therein,  prohibition  is  useless.     An  asylum 


DISCUSSION.  157 

of  mercy  should  be  practiced  and  not  mistakable  force,  if 
necessary. 

"Whenever  we  shall  recede  from  this  luminous  way 
opened  before  us,  the  interest  of  the  few  will  not  compen- 
sate; but,  we  shall  be  forced  to  witness  the  most  awful 
gloom.  The  grace  that  has  beamed  upon  us  is  not  for 
selfishness;  when  wandering  over  the  earth  as  homeless 
traders  for  denial  of  this  grace,  as  history  may  record 
in  an  instance,  we  may  sigh,  that  we  denied  its  bound- 
lessness, in  a  boundless  endurance.  We  sigh  for  exclusion 
and  our  king  —  God  forbid  ! 

"Shall  a  few  shallow  spirits  for  aggrandizement  create 
a  besotted  power  and  be  maintained  by  slavish  restriction 
or  slavish,  worse,  persecuted  exclusion  ?  Wisdom  has  no 
delight  in  the  revelry  and  debauches  of  the  aggrievers. 
Let  the  hitherto  unthinking  multitude  attack  this  vulner- 
able point.  The  people  immured  into  slavery,  their  mas- 
ters have  a  loftier  spirit  over  them,  which  extends  and 
enters  into  alliance  with  the  like  the  world  over;  the 
visions  of  these  controllers  are  unrestrained,  their  means 
are  boundless.  Credence  is  exceeded  hereby ;  but,  repeated 
investigation  would  unearth  the  awful  truth. 

"  Such  ideas  are  barbarous  in  civilization.  The  secrets 
of  the  dungeon,  the  cruel  exile,  stealthy  inquisition,  close 
conclave,  intrigues  combination  in  the  view  of  the  world 
are  premanifested  by  suspicion  and  meet  its  condemna- 
tion, It  is  but  the  wile  of  the  individual  at  the  expense 
of  the  whole. 

"The  instigator,  who  long  since  has  borne  the  utter 
odium  in  addition  to  the  common  woes,  is  hurled  from  his 
ill-gotten  pleasures  by  his  own  disappointments  and 
fallacies. 

"But,  having  arrived  at  this  port,  you  have  entered  a 
great  country  —  made  so  by  God's  blessings  and  nature's 


158  THE  ThOUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

courses  ;  marred  only  by  man's  contrivances.  You  should 
be  challenged  there  but  for  the  most  laudable  purposes  — 
we  did  not,  ami  shall  )><>t,  hurt  you  by  our  free  entry  here; 
a  certain  consideration  is  properly  demandable  from  you, 
that  the  country  may  be  in  a  position  to  accord  liberty, 
satisfaction  for  yourself,  your  business  and  property  and 
your  legit  invite  pleasures. 

"But  on  the  other  hand  that  tribute  in  substance  should 
be  hospitably  scrutinized  by  your  host,  should  be  so 
reasonably  gauged  that  nothing  unreasonable  or  impos- 
sible should  be  expected  from  you  in  your  conduct,  either, 
while  on  your  visit. 

"Exclusion  means  internal  festering!  The  best  appear- 
ing are  the  soonest  ripe  ! 

"America  is  for  the  Americans;  but  all  may  become  the 
latter,  as  these  are  of  all,  when,  upon  their  due  supplica- 
tion, Ave  annex  their  territory :  they  gain  more  than  we 
lose.  You  have  not  erred,  when  you  have  come  to  us  for 
the  greatest  amount  of  intelligence  to  be  gained  at  any 
one  place,  although  it  is  not  to  be  gainsaid  that  outside  of 
this  point  there  are  many,  very  many,  places  full  of  things 
of  true  advantage,  also.  A  reference  may  articulate  a 
truth  both  ways  as  well  as  one  relative  proposition. 

"  What  will  you  offer  in  exchange  ?  Remember,  nothing 
will  be  furnished  you  without  recourse  or  value,  and  that 
alone  will  furnish  you  constant  employment  and  profit;  a 
free-trading  nation  cannot  be  bankrupted !  You  have 
territory,  now,  that  you  have  already  united,  a  great 
extent  of  it,  more  in  fact  than  you  yourselves  have  any 
definite  idea  of,  and  you  can,  very  acceptably,  offer  two 
things. 

"You  have,  already,  heard,  indefinitely,  that  an  excess 
of  population,  so  to  speak  (formerly  this  was  usually  got- 
ten rid  of  by  wholesale  murder,  called  war,  for  the  delec- 


DISCUSSION.  159 

tation  of  potentates;  then,  too,  they  rid  their  power  of 
so  much  menace)  exists  within  the  narrow  range,  in 
which  they  seem  to  insist  everything  must  be  conducted 
according  to  some  set  fashion,  or  not  at  all,  and  the  result 
is  that  with  many  there  is  a  constant  struggle  to  meet  or 
successfully  thwart  the  clashing  interests  and  unavoidable 
contacts -within  the  narrow  range.  God  has  provided  for 
population  —  man  has  curtailed  the  range!  That  they 
possess  all  unlimited  range  of  territory,  which  they  might 
improve  before  bringing  yours  into  requisition,  leads  us  to  a 
discussion  which  may  later  be  taken  up  in  the  abstract, 
and  brings  you  now  to  the  idea  of  development. 

"You  require  something  more — you  need  a  certain 
amount  of  communication  with  other  conditions  and  all 
their  incidents;  and  both  you  and  they  are  benefited  by 
the  intermingling  of  their  several  products  and,  thus, 
engender  a  new  life  —  the  old  succumbing  at  a  certain 
stage  for  the  benefit  of  the  new,  not  able  itself  to  prevent 
a  determination  of  affairs.  Parturition  is  a  painful  joy, 
but,  borne  by  the  most  glorious  of  mankind,  gives  the 
impetus  to  evidently  intended  results.  A  happy  combi- 
nation favors  a  lovable  issue.  All  places  need  the  rest  of 
this  worldly  space  to  distribute  their  surpdus  and  foster 
their  employments.  God  never  sends  a  cloud  over  this 
earth  without  its  blessings  —  the  negro  and  darkest 
Africa  bring  refreshments  to  this  garden,  as  it  is  new  life 
that  carries  on  existence  of  affairs. 

"Reform  is  the  healthy  emanation  of  happy  admixture 
and  the  fruit  thereof — new  brain,  new  knowledge,  until 
the  diseased  and  weak  are  provided  for.  This  is  the  nude 
in  art,  and  as  essential  as  the  quivering,  shivering 
mass,  that  poses  therefor. 

"Upon  the  details  of  things,  the  most  expedient  and 
initiatory  are  adopted;  subsequently,  everything  is  treated. 


160  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

You  assume  everything  to  good  use,  and  add  to  the  useful- 
ness by  the  emergencies,  that  suggest  improvements. 
Beware  of  spurious  issue. 

"Now,  then,  you  may  offer  the  following  considerations 
to  the  United  States  why  they  should  cheerfully  receive 
you,  to  wit:  Upon  the  first  aspect,  you  take  up  for  your 
use  and  consume  many  of  their  articles  of  almost  every 
description,  which  they  have  constructed  for  the  very  pur- 
pose; you  have  opened  to  them  an  encouraging  avenue, 
consequently,  they  are  pleased  and  undoubtedly  benefited 
by  the  result,  which,  it  should  be  assumed,  they  appre- 
ciate as  a  satisfactory  fact.  That  some  should  employ, 
outside,  beyond,  everywhere  and  the  room  kept  up  for  contin- 
ued in  vigorous,  successful,  beneficent  employment,  therein 
lies  the  sole  principle  of  happiness  in  life,  individual, 
mutual,  universal. 

"And  acting  upon  this  truth,  the  United  States  offer  you 
the  facilities  of  the  application  of  all  their  industries,  to 
instruct  you  in  the  beneficial  use  of  their  products  until 
your  experience  and  understanding  make  these  two  things 
profitable  to  you;  and  you  will  have  offered  a  locality 
where  the  skilled  men  of  their  nation  can  find  employ- 
ment (and  think,  yours,  too),  the  field  being  more  than 
supplied  at  their  home  if  the  consumption  is  restricted  to 
the  home  market,  and  seeking  aid  with  high  emoluments 
if  it  is  not.  Otherwise,  that  field  of  endeavor,  where  the 
heart  as  well  as  the  mind  may  be  desirably  exercised, 
would  be  cut  off  but  to  a  favored  few,  or  you  would  sink 
into  apathy,  gladly  hailing  the  end  of  your  enforced  days. 

"Every  corner-storebox  has  its  philippers  and  fillupers  — 
every  individual  under  some  circumstance  is  a  linguistic 
host.  Upon  your  premises  you  are  an  orator,  although 
the  top  of  a  stump  may  be  too  uneven.  Here  the  free- 
booters   mount   with   acrobatic    skill,    though    the    hardy 


DISCUSSION.  161 

woodsman,  who  in  preparing  the  settlements  also  prepared 
the  'stump,'  is  not  nimble  on  its  surface.  With  no 
premises  of  their  own  they  here  call  for  the  strategetic 
events  and  become  free  fellows  at  your  home  with  the 
request  to  rule  and  live  off  you.  They  desire  to  cut  off 
supplies  from  elsewhere,  that  no  time  be  given  you  to  rule 
yourself  in  the  attentions  they  require  or  the  '  rest '  they 
wish  periodically  to  enforce  upon  you  without  a  chance 
for  succor.  In  this  way  they  may  leisurely  balance  their 
accounts  with  and  charge  the  difference  to  you  with  inter- 
est. These  have  never  been  your  friends  —  neither  to  the 
newcomer  seeking  admission  to  the  higher  realms  of  man 
nor  to  the  subjects  of  their  prey.  The  only  free,  compara- 
tively useless  property  they  find  here  is  the  '  stump,'  and 
appropriate  it  and  call  you  forth  for  a  barter  or  trade. 
Where  do  they  get  their  provisions  but  with  their  coadju- 
tors whilst  drawing  you  from  the  defense  of  your  homes  and 
stores?  Let  not  such  Aviles  draw  you  into  the  denuded 
wilderness  for  the  unknown  terrors  of  a  combat,  with  a 
foe  in  companionship  with  the  unprovidential  and  grasp- 
ing, whose  fort  is  the  power  of  menace.  Your  castle  is 
your  joy,  fortify  your  virtues,  admit  your  friends  and 
fellows  in  general  interest  the  world  over,  and  the  host  you 
will  muster  will  debar  all  ' domesticating'  wolves. 

"Where  you  are  hopelessly  general,  and  not  specifically 
pure,  you  start  with  infatuation  for  a  few,  end  with 
adoration  for  all,  and  reach  the  issue,  happily,  if  before 
death  or  destruction  in  the  meantime.  But  where  you 
faithfully  admire  all,  you  enjoy  their  company  and  they 
reward  your  faith.  In  this  conscientious  intercourse  with 
a  nation  you  will  have  developed  your  means,  produced 
your  resources,  mutually  afforded  knowledge  and  facilities, 
and  the  mutual  assistance  has  distributed  your  stores  to 
unbounded  satisfaction  and   employment.     Your   foreign 


162  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

relation  is  indeed  happy  and  auspicious.  If  trade  with 
restriction  can  be  beneficial,  without  it  must  be  multiplied. 

"Why  is  it,  my  humble  friend,  that  kingly  houses  and 
the  powerful  seek  to  unite  their  family  interests?  Is 
it  not  for  local  power  regardless  of  the  foreign  substance 
of  the  force  ?  Does  anyone  question  the  motive  of  such 
mutual  alliance  of  power  ? 

"A  happy  stimulus  for  surplus  productions,  and  therefore 
the  best  employment  of  forces,  is  the  application  to  dis- 
pose of  them. 

"Now,  then,  you  may  come  to  a  point  where  you  both 
have  so  completely  supplied  each  other  with  your  mutual 
supplies  (no  formal  agreement,  no  reciprocity,  but  neces- 
sity is  the  compact  of  enlightened  procedure)  that  your 
range  has,  again,  become  limited.  What  is  possible  of 
thought  is  feasible.  You  will  never  become  limited  except 
by  utter  impossibility,  and  at  that  time  the  provision  of 
the  great  Creator  comes  in  with  the  end  of  your  trials, 
with  acquittal,  if  you  are  innocent. 

The  dolor  (or  dollar)  of  your  needs  in  your  house  must 
determine  the  sense  (or  cents)  out  of  it;  but,  you  must  go 
out.  Your  house  cannot  supply  itself  for  or  from  its  own 
construction,  still  supplies  others  through  you  that  you 
may  inhabit  it  by  them. 

"But  you  shall,  we  will  say,  proceed  to  France,  to 
Germany,  to  England,  to  Russia,  and  the  several  other 
countries  and  nations.  (You  Avill  wonder  why  there  are 
so  many  names ;  I  will  tell  you,  To  quarrel  about.) 

"  One  might  go  on  and  adduce,  interestingly,  the  several 
kinds  of  productions  the  various  countries  are  respectively 
capable  of  offering  to  the  world  for  exchange  or  such  they 
are  incapable  of  producing ;  how  the  different  climates, 
topographies  and  zones  possess  divers  faculties  for  the 
developments  of  knowledge  and  resources ;  that  the  people 


DISCUSSION.  163 

in  their  race  peculiarities  offer  inducements  and  mutual 
advantages  —  all  of  which  would  be  fascinating  in  the 
narrative.  Then  add  thereto  the  advantages  of  inter- 
mingling of  products  from  all  these  various  sources  and 
you  again  have  before  you  the  pleasing  problem,  that  leads 
but  to  the  one  happy  result,  the  creation  of  new  life  to 
delight  you,  unlimited,  varied,  restrained  solely  because 
our  possible  uses  cannot  embrace  all.  Yet,  swiftly,  unin- 
terruptedly see  —  let  the  world  first  come  to  you  and 
erect  the  power-house  whence  to  conduct  this  electrical 
portation,  grant  the  space  for  such  a  beneficent  result  and 
the  profits  enormously  will  be  yours.  The  world  now 
awaits  a  general  enterprise  to  give  its  bounty.  The 
intellects  that  can  henceforth  devote  themselves  to  this 
investigation  and  welfare  of  the  world  have  a  happy  and 
unrestricted  life's  work  before  them.  The  lack  of  employ- 
ment is  the  lack  of  enterprise. 

"Thus,  you  will  linger  long  and  patiently,  with  enthusi- 
asm, confidence  and  delight,  inquire  into,  perceive  and 
learn  the  divers  facilities,  and  will  receive  their  possibili- 
ties and  developing  powers,  and,  in  return,  offer  them  your 
field  for  their  experiments.  Thus,  ever  working  for  each 
other,  a  strengthening  in  the  chain,  yet  a  flexibility,  each 
part  a  complete  little  self,  a  link,  yet  a  uniform,  encircling, 
beautiful  whole,  as  durable  as  all  life.  Then  we  shall  not 
be  compelled  to  quibble  over  foolish  unestablishments, 
strained  circumstances  produced  by  narrow  views,  but  only 
perceive  the  measure  that  is  accorded  to  existence. 
Here  we  can  abduce  the  true  evolution,  that  is  to  figure 
for  this  life. 

"But  you  suggest  the  sordid  motives,  the  inequality  of 
different  people  and  conditions  —  the  disparagement  in  the 
case  of  one  over  the  other.  The  difference  alluded  to  is 
largely  of  estimation  and  entirely  of  forced  inadaptation. 


164  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Because  one  soil  produces  what  another  fails  is  not  a 
difference  in  production  but  results.  Not  even  this  for 
the  second  will  produce  equally  as  profitable.  Everyone 
is  fit  somewhere. 

"  The  whole  resolves  itself  not  to  the  fiction  of  difference 
in  true  parts  for  humane  purposes  but  the  establishment 
of  propriety,  and  this  is  an  unmistakable  thing.  Per- 
verted by  fault  and  ignorance  appears  in  your  daily  expe- 
riences ;  yet,  no  thing  is  so  trifling  as  not  to  be  embraced 
by  this  underlying  principle.  Everything  is  a  part  and 
legitimate  in  its  purposes.  An  absence  would  leave  an 
imperfection,  as  the  vacancy  from  the  principle  would 
leave  nothing  to  be  considered. 

"You  trade ;  you  cannot  live  off  yourself — cannot  cling 
to  your  own  parts  for  protection.  To  be  connected  even 
means  to  be  torn  and  crushed  with  the  disaster  of  the  sup- 
port ;  but,  alone,  affright  is  sufficient  to  quell  the  senses. 

"To  flourish  means  to  benefit  and  be  benefited  by. 
Can  you  deny  man's  benefit  to  you  ?  Have  you  not  made 
him  what  he  is  and  will  make  what  he  remains  ?  What 
would  you  resort  to  in  his  absence  —  or  pine  eternally  ? 

"In  a  proud  moment  a  little  individual  success  elates, 
envelopes  the  fancies,  that  hardly  a  sickly  gleam  of  intel- 
lect is  left.  Every  likelihood  is  then  burlesqued  and  Ave 
presume  on  distinctions,  where  it  is  shown  none  truly  can 
exist.  The  same  law,  that  is  raising,  giving  to  the  other, 
maintains  the  identical  prestige  —  more  than  that  even  in 
its  time  and  space.  But,  where  one  result  necessarily 
leads  to  another,  your  neighbor  becomes  illimitable,  unless 
you  eliminate  yourself.  Be  not  duped  by  a  momentary 
use;  to-morrow's  sun  may  not  only  shine  on  a  different 
scene  but  your  circumstances  will  lift  you  to  the  common 
sphere  despite  every  protest  and  contrariness.  Appreciate 
your  surroundings,  comprehend  them  by  education. 


DISCUSSION.  165 

"  You  speak  of  weaknesses.  Alas !  God  pity  us,  and 
there  is  where  we  need  His  pity.  You  soy  truly,  'our 
weaknesses,'  for  they  are  our  property,  our  production. 
If  we  wish  to  point  with  pride  to  anything,  we  can 
proudly  asseverate,  'Behold  our  handiwork;  our  genius!' 
—  and  no  patent-right  will  be  denied  us,  because  of  any 
like  invention,  or  one  that  will  supersede  us  in  that 
respect. 

"  The  best  is  not  always  for  you ;  sometimes  a  very  medi- 
ocre fits  your  best  and  is  all  that  is  required,  the  best  being 
preserved  for  those  who  need  it  most.  Because  of  our 
pride  we  are  weak;  when  we  are  passionate,  angry,  indo- 
lent, perverse,  and  refuse  to  persevere  where  the  goal, 
undoubtedly,  promises  the  most  delightful  ends,  we  expose 
ourselves  to,  not  insinuations  only,  but  charges  of  our 
transgressions  and  consequent  imbecility.  One  or  the 
other,  or  more  than  one  of  them  usually  infest  our  prac- 
tices, and  are  the  stumbling-blocks  which  plunge  us 
into  ignorance.  First  Ave  excuse,  then  seek  to  save 
whatever  good  emanates.  Virtually  our  affairs  are  in  chaos, 
from  which  the  extradition  of  what  is  good  is  the  so-called 
invention  of  ourselves.  We  vaunt  our  discoveries  and 
seek  to  protect  them  for  ourselves  —  dependent  on  others. 
We  mingle  the  fruits  of  our  successes  with  chance,  fortune, 
experience,  accident;  but,  the  accepted  consequence  of 
pure  knowledge  is  not  a  fact. 

"One  ponders  and  wonders;  yet  cannot  charge  pervers- 
ity to  man  covertly  with  insinuations  as  is  frequently 
done,  but  must  judiciously  take  a  bold  stand.  The  search 
for  principle  is  not  discouragable  as  it  saves  from  malig- 
nity the  many  candidates  for  the  honor  of  true  manhood 
and  womanhood. 

"The  sneaking,  creeping  viper  is  the  most  certain  foe! 
The  open  scourge  is  a  blessing,  compared  with  the  terrors 


166  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

of  a  hidden  death.  But,  to  return  to  the  consideration  of 
our  weaknesses,  we  owe,  not  to  ourselves  but  to  our  neigh- 
bor, compassion  and  commiseration  —  ourselves  should 
aim  to  purge  ourselves  of  our  iniquities,  not  so  much  in 
grieving  over  past  offences,  but  in  rehabilitation  and  a 
renewal,  as  much  as  possible,  of  the  pristine  strength. 
Your  silence,  in  your  countenance,  speaks  your  desire. 
Your  example  elevates.     Your  wish  guides. 

""Wealth,  is  your  desire?  —  wealth,  and  power,  and  the 
attributes  and  the  incidents  you  choose  to  ascribe  to  it  ? 

"That  seared  withered  old  man,  who  has  spent  a  life  of 
licentiousness,  of  debauchery,  of  dishonesty,  cruelty,  cold- 
blooded dissimulation,  and  yet  withal,  and  even  by  these 
means  themselves,  collected  what  it  pleases  you  to  call 
wealth,  has  enjoyed  himself  in  that  way,  and  has  also 
accomplished  more  than  you,  in  the  common  race  for  the 
same  object,  that  is,  wealth. 

"Has  the  anatomy  of  such  a  one  ever  been  dissected? 
I  mean  now  with  a  view  to  the  question  in  hand. 

"Assuming,  that  you  are  diametrically  opposed  to  his 
course:  look  at  him,  he  bespeaks  his  life.  That  you 
term  their's  enjoyment,  therein  lies  the  dilemma.  They 
have  annoyed  their  neighbors ;  but,  from  the  estimation 
alone  of  their  neighbors  have  they  derived  their  prestige. 
In  other  words,  fail  to  perceive  any  reason  for  a  man's 
eminence  by  his  selfish  acquisitions  and  you  crush  the 
incentive.  Your  envies  and  bickerings  afford  the  very 
results  you  deplore.  Eschew  caste.  How  many  know  the 
eminent  minds  and  able  men,  that  exist.  Those  who  have 
an  abiding  faith  in  principle  suffer  little  or  none  herein; 
but,  are  pityingly,  solicitously,  prayerfully  grieved. 

"That  old  decrepit,  disgusting,  unrefined,  ignorantly 
mannered  man,  assumes  a  position  from  his  mass  of  dross, 
and  ascribes  to  himself,  really,  candidly,  a  virtue,  a  dis- 


DISCUSSION.  167 

tinction,  and  exhibits  an  evident  contempt  for  yonr 
relative  position  in  'society,'  because  you  cower  and  cringe 
to  his  assumptions  —  hence  his  position,  his  so-called 
powers. 

"Now,  my  anarchistically  inclined  friend,  this  is  no 
solace  for  you,  as  he  borrows  no  glory  from  and,  hence, 
has  none  to  return  to  you ;  neither  could  you  give  or  con- 
sent to  be  given  that  which  you  never  had  or,  in  any 
measure,  controlled.  If  your  ideas  of  division  are  based 
on  absolute  right  —  you  are  wrong;  but,  seriously  now, 
that  old  croak  is  miserable ;  depreciated,  or  falsely  appre- 
ciated, worn  out,  disgusted,  'no  more  worlds  to  conquer/ 
because  he  has  exhausted  his  ability,  and  has  no  desire  to 
vacate  these  premises  where  he  has  some  gleams  of  fitful 

j°y- 

"Bad  practices  destroy  good  manners. 

"The  quantity  of  delicacies  at  a  rich  man's  table  is  his 
surfeit. 

"  I,  it  will  be  remembered,  but  a  short  time  ago  had  a 
plentiful  supply,  yet  lacked  everything  —  in  spirit. 

"  As  a  rule  the  delights  of  the  table  have  become  sordid, 
soured  or  commonplace.  The  meager  appetite  of  one  is 
no  cause  for  complaint  of  another  in  his  ravishing  desire 
because  he  has  and  the  other  not  —  the  former  is  surfeited 
and  lacks  the  enjoyment,  the  latter  is  in  dearth  and  suf- 
fers; the  occupation  of  the  former  is  without  a  desire  for 
gratification  in  consumption,  while  the  latter's  seemingly 
calls  for  greater  supplies.  Herein  is  the  enigma  of  the 
relative  existence,  fostered  mutually  by  restriction  and 
idleness. 

"  Thus  the  elementary  principle  of  life  becomes  disgust- 
ing. With  downy  couches,  elegant  equipages,  service, 
there  is  no  delight  alone ;  the  absence  of  these  is  no  depri- 
vation   although    their    pleasures    are    beyond    question, 


1G8  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

because  their  possibilities  are  for  use.  But  in  the  conduct 
alone  lies  success  and  mutual  enjoyment. 

"Now,  as  conducted,  the  exultation  of  the  one  over,  and 
the  envy  of  the  other  at  possession,  create  the  only  appre- 
ciable zest,  are  too  the  only  causes  of  friction,  and  lay  the 
foundation  of  the  pernicious  social  principle  underlying 
this  fictitious  fabric.  That  only  the  unfortunate  com- 
plain is  no  comment  on  the  silence  of  the  others. 
Sooner  or  later  the  burden  falls  between  them  and 
then  the  general  anguish  bacomes  manifest.  Distribution 
would  be  favored  if  possession  were  not  exalted  in  the 
minds. 

"Property  would  be  a  burden  were  it  not  the  adored 
manifestation  of  selfishness.  Its  limitation  lies  in  the 
industry  of  the  others  to  acquire  other  and  not  to  tender  a 
high  regard,  in  hesitation. 

"Where  were  you  begotten  and  born?  The  world  is  the 
field  for  the  righteous,  heaven  its  storehouse.  Because  you 
can  see  no  further  you  conceive  yourself  in  gloom.  But 
read  aloud  the  promptings  of  your  heart  and  you  perceive 
everything.  They  say  to  you,  Vain  man,  your  foibles 
trouble  you  not  enough.  You  chase  shadows  when  a  little 
forethought  would  conduct  you  upon  another  course  to 
await  the  things  the  shadows  have  forecast.  Or  you  would 
go  to  them.  An  inspiration  enlightens  the  heart  and  mind 
and  glows  through  the  soul.  It  is  from  heaven ;  pure  are 
then  the  motives,  leading  but  to  right.  You  have  no  right 
to  complain;  not  a  destructive,  violent  sorrow  is  consider- 
ate to  the  several  principles,  but  it  is  enunciated  these 
must  control  for  properly  onward  propulsion. 

"No  man  is  wealthy,  but  collectively  that  accord,  privi- 
lege, appellation  has  been  made  him.  Withold  wisely 
this  consideration,  make  him  again  your  equal  by  your 
undistinguishing  regard,  first  in  your  individual  opinion, 


DISCUSSION.  169 

then  collectively,  and  yon  remove  his  exercise  of  his  rela- 
tive situation. 

"Or  remove  yourself  from  his  immediate  contact  and 
what  price  remains  not  his  social  sacrifice?  Leave  him 
his  matter  but  deny  your  companionship  and  you  thwart 
all  his  desires.  The  higher  intelligence  must  come  from 
you.     Let  his  price  be  refused. 

"His  wealth  is  only  a  relative  position  to  yours  in  the 
opportunities  you  grant  him,  which  for  his  delectation  lies 
principally  in  your  jealousies,  where,  in  your  fair-minded- 
ness, ought  to  be  pity.  Your  estimation  is  that  makes  a 
rich  man  proud,  haughty,  cruel.  His  exorbitance  is  your 
knavish  connivance. 

"Let  intelligence  supply  every  calling,  education  find 
its  avenue  in  each,  and  the  otherwise  humblest  virtues 
will  exalt  humanity  to  equality  and  abolition  of  caste. 

"But  as  long  as  pre-eminence  is  generally  sought  in 
caste,  it  must  be  allowed,  and  the  burden  of  ungracious 
life  continues. 

"Earth  is  for  the  good)  but  where  all  are  wicked,  folly 
metes  the  share  to  the  wise  —  and  wisdom  may  be  as  sor- 
did as  a  hog.  How  would  you,  then,  quell  the  riot  of  a 
rich  man  ?  We  have  discussed  what  makes  him  rich : 
your  esteem.  Now,  let  us  see  where  his  esteem  arrives, 
if  he  ever  has  any.  Transplant  this  rare  flower  from  his 
gardens,  you  will  find  him  a  rarely  indigenous  plant,  a 
fungus,  an  overgrowth,  of  doubtful  beauty  there,  but  per- 
haps some  drug  or  a  manure,  still  draining  the  earth 
of  more  of  its  fruitfulness,  than  he  can  ever  alone  contrib- 
ute to  it  again.  Take  him  where  the  blooms  are  of 
another  order,  and  in  a  clime  of  a  haughtier,  hardier, 
more  majestic  growth,  and  whither  languishes  his  desire  ? 
If  he  is  at  all  enabled  to  exist  alongside  of  the  substance- 
draining,  over-bearing,  shadowing  plants,  when  they  fall 


170  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

he  is  crushed  beneath,  perchance,  unless  he  is  so  withered 
and  shrunken,  by  that  time,  that  they  cannot  touch  him 
even  by  disaster ;  or  the  new  soil  and  food  are  death  and 
destruction,  themselves,  being  inadequate  in  substance  to 
his  enterprise.  He  passes  hence  into  insignificance. 
Among  his  equals  he  is  no  peer;  with  his  superiors  he  fades 
from  light;  with  his  light,  alone,  he  illumines  no  other's 
path.  Away  from  his  power  he  sheds  no  beam,  whatever; 
and  when  cold  death  embraces  his  chill  heart,  it  is  no  wel- 
coming touch,  for,  it  is  not  the  cooling,  delightful  zephyr, 
that  wafts  ease  and  blissful  enjoyment  in  rest  to  an  earnest 
existence  spent  in  fruitful  garnering  of  an  even  harvest  of 
delight  and  plenty. 

"  The  spirit  of  man  may  be  ever  proud,  but  his  victors 
are  his  insatiable  desires;  he  may  desire  all  the  possibili- 
ties of  this  earth,  he  cannot  hold  them  all  at  once,  and  yet 
his  insatiety  will  disturb  his  every  thinking  moment. 

"He  yields  not,  this  mortal,  to  the  necessities  of  the 
day,  but,  racks  in  the  night,  and  he  goes  down  into  the 
darkness  of  his  gloom  and  despair  a  wrecked  mortality, 
unfitted  for  the  strife  of  the  morrow.  Let  him  live  in 
social  enjoyment  of  right. 

"It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  of  this  or  that  iniquitous 
influence ;  it  boots  nothing  to  refer  to  these  feeble  indica- 
tions of  the  unfavorable  tendencies  of  man,  unless  a 
mighty  effort,  a  stern  endeavor  and  desire  uphold  and 
uplift  the  knowledge,  that  presents  itself  to  view  in  these 
visions.  It  is  useless  for  me  to  augur  you  an  enlightened, 
beneficial  time,  if  you  do  not,  in  the  first  instance,  realize 
your  important,  active  engagement  therewith ;  nor  can  one 
premise  a  condition  of  things  to  be,  unless  there  are  direc- 
tions to  point  out  the  tendencies,  that  may  bring  about 
such  affairs.  God  made  us  for  a  whole,  and  mutual 
esteem  and  social  quality. 


DISCUSSION.  171 

"No  single  nation  has  ever  prospered  —  and  none 
embraced  the  world." 

I  sat  down  and  was  at  once  touched  and  moved 
by  the  appearance  of  anxiety  and  dread  that  had 
settled  itself  upon  the  assemblage,  for  to  them 
appeared,  for  the  first  time,  a  possibility  of  a  worse  state 
of  affairs,  than  those  they  were  now  trying  to  escape. 
Their  gaze  was  abstracted,  especially  that  of  the  judges, 
and  several  had  drooped  their  heads.  My  friends  were 
evidently  bolder,  in  their  hardier  manhood,  and  uncontam- 
inated,  in  any  measure,  by  previous  social  relation.  I 
suggested,  at  this  stage,  that  dinner  was  probably  about 
ready  —  and,  establishing  my  surmise,  the  meal-gong 
sounded  its  not  unwelcome  summons.  I  offered,  during  the 
noon-hour,  to  prepare  a  series  of  resolutions,  which  should, 
in  brief,  outline  the  skeleton  of  a  preparatory  or  provi- 
sional compact,  that  no  misunderstanding  should  mar 
our  much-to-be-wished  pleasant  relations,  as  in  all  human 
relations  the  clearest  understandings  are  the  foundation 
and  basis  of  progress. 

They  acceded  to  my  proposal,  and  under  the  hospitable 
leadership  of  Mr.  Bertram  presently  filed  out  of  the  room 
—  a  somewhat  subdued  set,  willing  to  concede  that  life 
certainly  presented  some  perplexing  anomalies  —  ah,  when 
emancipation  is  about  to  ensue,  ever  the  worst  of  the  first 
fears  of  despair;  then,  glorious  happiness  forever,  rest! 

Left  alone,  I  was  plunged  unrestrainedly  into  the 
depths  of  my  pent-up  feelings  and  experienced  the  sorrow 
of  regret — there  came  to  me,  again,  one  of  those  times, 
when  we  are  burdened  and  borne  down  in  the  heaviness 
of  our  spirits  with  deep,  afflicting  ponderance  on  human 
affairs. 

But  I  had  not  much  time  to  yield  to  doubt-creating  theo- 
ries in  the   short .  space  before   me   to  determine   expedi- 


172  THE  TliOUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

encies  in  the  highly  practical,  important  occasion  before 
us  all.  It  was  all  of  the  world  we  were  treating;  it  was 
but  a  small  concern,  compared  with  many  great  ones,  that 
are  before  the  larger  world  —  but,  importance  is  not  meas- 
ured by  its  extent,  but  its  bearing. 

I  formulated  as  follows  : 

"1st.     The  affairs  of  man  are  in  chaos. 

"2d.  A  mutual  consideration  imposes  an  interchange- 
able esteem. 

"3d.  Esteem  and  consideration  are,  mutually,  indis- 
pensable. 

"4th.  Under  the  direction  of  a  benign  influence  a  sol- 
emn realization  may  be  accomplished. 

"5th.  Individual  desires  and  tastes  merit  their  careful 
attention. 

"  6th.  It  is  an  undoubted  principle  of  good,  that  inter- 
communication be  fostered,  not  restricted ;  that  good-will 
and  well-intention  be  manifested  without  reserve ;  that  no 
burden  be  cast  upon  another,  which  is  not  willingly  borne 
in  return;  and  that  the  highest  beneficial  result  is  to  be 
anticipated  and  realized  in  the  pure  development  of 
comprehension. 

"7th.  That  the  ports  are  to  be  thrown  open;  that  each 
accord  the  other  an  investigation  into  the  other's  resources, 
to  satisfy  the  doubtful  ones,  although,  there  is  no  question  of 
faith  and,  therefore,  knowledge  in  the  many  and  majority; 
that  the  facilities  of  development  be  mutually  accorded." 

When  they  returned,  it  was  with  brighter,  beaming 
countenances.  They  were  profuse  in  their  offerings  of 
condolence  at  my  enforced  absence  from  the  good  things 
they  found  prepared  for  them,  but  I  waived  their  good- 
natured  sympathy,  and  began  at  once  to  read  to  them 
these  several  items,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  Mr.  Ber- 
tram added: 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  173 

"8th.  Plain  expressions  raise  no  uncertain  distinctions." 
And  the  whole  was  adopted  with  enthusiasm  and  heart- 
felt joy  and  thankfulness,  the  gloomy  forebodings  giving 
way  to  the  certain,  enlightened  future,  that  dawned  upon 
the  world,  thenceforth,  as  a  new  basis  upon  which  to  join 
their  old  affairs. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

THE    RETURN    HOME. 

Political  economy  with  early  domestic  propriety  is  the  field  for  the 
future  man. 

Those  who  complain  loudest  are  usually  the  worst  —  reform  must  begin 
with  them  and  their  complaints.  Never  profit  without  principle  or  you 
will  generally  be  mulcted  despite  of  it  thereafter. 

The  sound  that  lingers  were  it  many  dreary  miles  away, 
No  joy,  no  scene,  no  grief  can  rob  its  name  ; 
Nor  thought  but  has  a  fondness  for  the  erstwhile  day 
And  "  home  "  remains  the  beacon-light  to  gleam. 

We  spent  two  more  days  with  these  people,  who  were 
daily  manifesting  greater  confidence  in  and  regard  for  us 
as  the  facts  became  generally  known  and  understood,  and 
their  liking  for  us  increased,  when  they  had  learned,  also, 
our  further  amicable  intentions.  Already  their  imagina- 
tions were  becoming  fired  by  the  promising  outlook  ;  while 
the  authorities  lavished  such  attentions  upon  us,  as  proved 
their  high  opinion  of  us  since  our  formal,  consultory  meet- 
ing, and  the  evidences  they  had  then  derived  as  to  our 
sturdy,  resolute  views. 

We  had  again  quietly  discussed  the  matter  among  our- 
selves, and  entertained  the  unanimous  wish  to  extend 
every  facility  to  advancement  in  our  powers,  and  our  every 
conduct  and  expression  towards  our  friends  and  whilom 


174  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

entertainers  exhibited  that  resolution ;  all  of  which  had  the 
beneficent  effect  of  putting  everyone  in  the  best  of  humor, 
and  Ave  mutually  enjoyed  the  freest  intercourse  with  one 
another. 

We  met  and  became  acquainted  with  their  leading  peo- 
ple in  the  several  branches  of  their  industry  and  callings, 
and  found  them,  in  the  main,  as  we  had  found  their  rulers, 
to  be  possessed  of  brave,  simple,  kindliest  characteristics 
as  outlined.  A  people  may  safely  be  judged  by  their 
rulers. 

That  they  were  a  people  who  promised  much  in  their 
integrity,  industry  and  intelligence,  we  became  more  and 
more  convinced,  as  their  reserve  wore  off. 

One  day  was  devoted  to  an  excursion,  or,  better,  incur- 
sion into  the  country  for  a  distance,  to  embrace  a  view  of 
their  husbandry.  We  found  here  a  neat  arrangement  of 
all  that  they  undertook  in  the  way  of  farming  and  garden- 
ing. Their  products  were  not  so  very  numerous ;  they 
comprehended  and  used,  advantageously,  the  sciences  of 
manuring,  and  draining  of  surplus  water,  therewith,  too, 
internal  ventilation  where  necessary. 

The  farmers  were  a  neat,  industrious,  intelligent  set  of 
people,  who  furnished  the  basis  of  <ill  supplies  much  more 
unmurinuringly,  than  I  had  ever  beheld.  It  would  be 
needless  to  go  into  any  further  detail  about  these  people 
at  this  time,  especially  as  our  subsequent  intimate  rela- 
tions with  them  will  draw  forth  all  their  native  qualities, 
in  the  narratives  that  will  necessarily  follow  concerning 
them,  interweaving  themselves  hereafter  so  closely  into 
our  whole  history,  public  and  social,  that  the  favorable 
consideration  of  one  will  be  to  compliment  the  other. 

One  more  incident  remains  to  be  told  of  this  memorable 
trip  and  successful  discover}^. 

On  the  eve  of  our  departure,  having  all  in  readiness  to 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  175 

go  early  next  morning,  we  were  informed  that  the  people 
wished  to  entertain  ns,  "  as  they  humbly  were  able,"  by 
an  exhibition  of  their  national  kind  on  festive  occasions, 
which,  for  this  occasion,  they  had  endeavored  to  make 
extensively  elaborate.  About  five  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing we  all  repaired  to  a  shaded  spot,  for  the  sun  was  still 
high  and  shone  hot  rays,  where  the  "picnic"  was  to  take 
place,  and  were  very  politely  ushered  to  the  elevated  seats 
of  honor.  The  judges  and  their  families,  being  likewise 
accorded  distinctive  recognition,  were  picturesquely 
grouped  near  us  —  but  upon  us  all  eyes  were  turned,  and 
to  us  was  especial  effort  directed. 

The  first  thing  was  the  distribution  of  a  libation  among 
the  honored  guests,  who,  besides  the  judges  and  ourselves, 
embraced  the  leading  citizens,  the  fore-men  and  skilled 
and  directing  operators  in  their  affairs  and  traffic.  This 
was,  truly,  a  delicious  decoction,  and  was  as  refreshing  as 
it  was  palatable,  and  by  no  means  stinted  in  supply  —  as 
the  gods  would  be  presumed  to  prepare  for  a  feast.  And 
a  feast  followed;  young  maidens,  of  about  fifteen  annuals, 
fair-skinned,  beautifully  featured  and  gracefully  moving, 
with  their  beautiful,  loose-flowing  silky  locks  fluffing  in 
the  gentle  breeze,  and  clad  in  a  gala-costume,  red-tinted, 
and,  in  this  case,  sandaled  bare  feet,  did  the  service  in  a 
winsome,  graceful  manner. 

It  was  of  that  kind  of  spirit,  which  is  exhilarating,  but 
not  stimulating,  unless  it  be  beneficently  so. 

What  a  wonderful  amount  of  narrative  could  hinge  on 
the  contemplation  of  these  people,  who  seemed  simple 
enough  at  first,  almost  primitive  and  uninteresting,  if  a 
devotion  were  to  be  tendered  their  every  entertaining 
detail. 

But  now  followed  an  exhibition  that  excited  my  great- 
est   admiration    and    was    marvelous    to    me    as    a    new 


176  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

development  or  exposition  of  living  art.  Purely  the 
embodiment  of  their  own  ideas  of  graceful  demonstration, 
and  in  nowise  even  suggesting  an  impropriety,  the  specta- 
tor was  not  only  entertained  and  delighted  by  the  specta- 
cle, but  experienced  a  sense  of  relief  in  escaping  from  mere 
conventionalities  of  life.  Yet  a  refined  tone  of  morality 
pervaded  the  atmosphere  and  evident  intention  of  every 
movement,  so  that  one  was  unrestrainedly  drawn  into  a 
noble,  exalting  and  invigorating  realization;  the  first,  or 
primitive,  spectacular  entertainments  seem  more  to  pat- 
tern after  nature  in  its  purity,  but  are  afterwards  sullied 
by  indiscreet  ventures.  That  the  taste  may  become  mor- 
bid, is  evidenced  by  the  deterioration  too  often  witnessed; 
bnt  none  so  depraved,  who  cannot  appreciate  a  noble 
exhibition  forcibly  rendered. 

Arranging  themselves  in  two  lines,  fifty  on  the  side, 
were  maidens  from  the  ages  of  sixteen  to  twenty,  none 
exceeding  these  limitations,  which  was,  as  we  were 
informed,  a  particular,  though,  perhaps,  singular  part  of 
the  order;  at  the  completion  of  the  twentieth  year,  the 
whilom  member  stepped  out ;  on  the  sixteenth  birthday 
anniversary  each  maiden  became  a  member  of  the  order  of 
"  The  Kays  of  Light,"  and,  while  the  exercises  to  be  per- 
formed were  to  be  learned,  as  a  consequence,  the  order 
was  so  delightful,  that  every  girl  looked  forward  to  the 
time  at  which  she  was  to  enter  it  with  great  eagerness, 
and  retired  from  it  with  regret.  Their  debut  in  society  — 
but  such  a  beneficent  society  ! 

Other  sports  and  pastimes  there  were,  besides  this  one 
displayed  to  us,  as  they  informed  us,  going  into  detail 
thereof;  but  our  stay  then  did  not  allow  further  enter- 
tainment of  the  kind;  and  the  youths'  exhibition 
remained  for  some  later  date. 

After  their  attitudes  of  initiative  position  were  struck 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  177 

(in  physical  development  there  is  moral  taste)  each  one 
moved  in  graceful  poise  with  military  precision,  regarding 
their  relative  unison,  a  further  evidence  of  their  native 
taste  and  cultured  eye  for  harmony  in  coloring  and  shad- 
ing and  form.  My  friends,  who  were  in  the  extremest 
state  of  excited  expectation,  as  this  was  their  first  experi- 
ence of  this  kind,  greeted  with  a  surprised  exclamation 
of  wonder  and  awe-stricken  delight,  the  beautiful  appear- 
ance of  these  charming  ranks. 

Their  raiment  had  the  gloss  of  silk,  though  the  material 
was  not  quite  as  flexible;  but,  in  coloring,  nothing  was 
left  to  be  desired  in  the  harmonious  blending  of  the 
brilliant  dyes  in  the  severally  constituted  groups.  This 
artistic  effect  Avas  more  potent,  because  the  different  roles 
from  their  history  and  ensigns  were  thus  to  be  portrayed 
and,  nationally,  to  be  impressed  on  their  memories. 
Whilst  amusing  the  faculties  you  can  inject  more  pleas- 
ure—  by  seeming  calamity  bitterly  tasting  but  more 
pleasure  after.  Here  truth  and  joy  were  happily  in  their 
natural  union. 

After  the  first  bow  with  arms  folded  reverently,  as 
though  appreciating  the  sacredness  of  their  missions  in 
this  world,  the  nimble  feet  quickly  bore  their  lithe,  easy 
burdens  over  the  fresh  green  sward,  which  had  been 
closely  trimmed  for  the  occasion,  and  their  first  figure 
was  assumed:  their  national  flag,  or  ensign  of  colors  — 
and  so  beautifully  and  correctly  was  it  given  by  these 
delightfully  appearing  maidens,  that  I  was  ready  to  shout, 
"glory,"  myself.  But  restrained  myself  for  the  time- 
being,  for  demonstrations  of  so-called  applause  did  not 
seem  to  belong  to  these  people,  at  this  time ;  they  seemed 
to  regard  this  exhibition  with  a  serious  mien,  as  though 
attaching  considerable  importance  to  it,  although  their 
delight  was  apparent.     That  the  best  was  here  expected, 


178  THE   TllOUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

soon  was  manifest,  and  we  ascertained  that  their  best 
performers  had  been  selected  for  this  entertainment;  all 
were  handsome. 

Their  ensign  was  an  angel  (a  happy  relief  to  me  from 
the  usual  figures  of  animals,  selected,  too,  for  their  most 
terrible  propensities,  queer  inculcations  for  the  human 
mind,  intellectuality,  and  heart)  or,  some  might  construe  it,  a 
"  goddess  of  wisdom,"  and  was  beautifully  and  realistically 
constructed  from  this  tender  plant,  this  beautiful  mass  of 
humanity,  so  skillfully  interwoven  and  supported  one 
by  the  other,  that  the  perfect  image  became  apparent 
and  the  several  identities  of  the  human  persons 
forming  the  ensemble  were  lost.  With  the  aid  of 
their  mantles  of  pure  white  or  gold  or  green  or  purple, 
they  completed  the  whole  picture  so  quickly,  so  dexter- 
ously, so  ingeniously,  that  one  was  fairly  bewildered  and 
could  not  perceive  just  how  it  was  done.  Like  so  many 
active,  healthy  particles,  they  industriously  fittingly 
blended  into  the  one  grand  whole  —  typical  of  the  well- 
regulated  life,  and  the  figure  the  emblem  of  the  grand  and 
beautiful  protection  of  a  union.  Their  banner  represented 
the  guardian  spirit  of  progress  and  success. 

Everyone  of  the  hundred  was  utilized;  some  to  enter 
into  the  figure  directly,  others  for  the  footstool  of  fleecy 
clouds,  while  banks  of  soft  clouds  surrounded  and  formed 
a  background  for  the  figure,  set  off  in  one  corner  by  a 
rainbow,  also  their  emblem  of  peace.  Could  anyone  make 
a  distinction  between  them  in  the  beautiful  whole,  the  uni- 
ted beauty  of  which  was  not  individual  vanity  ?  Why 
should  there  be  difference  by  caste  in  life  ? 

How  they  accomplished  all  this  is  a  matter  of  skillful 
detail,  and  could  only  be  done  after  the  most  systematic 
training  in  the  delightful  art,  each  to  know  her  proper 
place  and  to  maintain  it.     Some  bearing  or  supported  by 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  179 

several,  or  in  a  measure  by  all  of  the  others,  none  could 
be  said  to  reign,  all  were  lost  together  and  none  percep- 
tible alone,  yet  everyone  requisite.  The  statue  was  of 
heroic  size ;  the  head  of  the  figure  was  formed  of  the 
heads  of  five  at  least  of  these,  not  otherwise  distinguish- 
able charming  ones,  but  so  dexterously  did  they  insert 
here  and  there  little  articles  of  artistic  employment,  of 
illumination,  by  artificial  light,  that  instantly,  so  well  under- 
stood they  their  parts,  a  shining  visage  beamed  bright- 
ness and  glory,  not  cold  stone,  but  living  in  living  parts,  and 
quivering  or  pained  with  the  souls  therein,  while  the  hair 
of  the  pure,  golden  blondes,  who  formed  this  uppermost 
part  of  the  figure,  made  the  natural  halo  —  incipient 
angels  one  angel.  Then,  as  I  have  said,  there  were  the 
"cloudy"  base  or  footstool  and  background,  all  arising 
simultaneously  with  the  figure,  in  fact  giving  it  its  buoy- 
ancy, and  at  the  last  the  brightly-hued  rainbow  com- 
pleted the  serenity  and  beauty  of  the  scene,  all  composed 
of  these  living,  distributed  bodies.  One  of  the  feat- 
ures in  the  clouds  was  a  long  plume,  which,  when 
properly  adjusted  about  the  body,  formed  an  exquisite 
ornament  to  the  costume.  This  allegory  and  significant 
introduction  completed,  with  ample  time  to  take  in  its 
beauty,  the  illusion  yanished  like  a  phantom;  but  in  so 
doing  assumed  another  figure,  and  was  even  in  the  transi- 
tion state  a  representation.  We  became  aware  that  the 
whole  was  a  connected  series,  and  demanded  our  contin- 
uous attention.  When  next  there  was  a  halt  in  the 
movements  —  the  whole  was  an  ocular  demonstration,  not 
a  sound  Avas  uttered  —  we  beheld  the  entrancing  spectacle  of 
"sleeping  beauty,"  or,  I  take  it,  their  charming  idea  of  the 
creation  of  man,  that  is,  the  establishment  of  earth  with  all 
its  wonders  and  delights  and  fruits.  The  world  over  this 
charming  spectacle  is  engrafted   on   the   heart,  the   same 


180  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALO.XK'. 

original  genius.  A  beautiful  brunette  maiden,  the  largest 
and  most  queenly,  full  of  figure,  was  reclining,  garbed  and 
draped  in  the  neutral  tints,  which  shed  off  and  subdued 
from  her  raven  tresses,  that  luxuriantly  and  wavingly 
clustered  about  her  head  and  neck  and  down  to  her 
shoulders,  framing  her  white  face  and  large,  luminous, 
black  eyes.  The  whole  effect  was  one  of  virtue  and  inspir- 
ing innocence  and  consequent  bliss.  The  luxurious  couch, 
as  well  as  the  brilliant  frame,  with  the  rising  "sun"  on 
the  margin,  was  the  same  human  arrangement ;  beautiful 
shrubbery  stood  and  bloomed  forth,  with  startling,  bewilder- 
ing suddenness,  all  about  this  roseate  couch,  in  all  its  dewy 
freshness,  as  these  maidens  adeptly  posed  and  seemed  to 
lose  all  their  identity,  in  the  fairylike,  incomprehensible, 
yet  visible  transition  into  beautiful  blooms.  Now  a  sudden 
gyration,  a  moment  lie  fore  a  general  gentle  stir,  as  though 
the  impulse  from  a  fairy-wand,  or  the  soft  breeze  that 
stirred  all  vegetation,  with  a  true  vernal  burst  of  glory, 
this  fanciful  garden,  waving  in  purity  and  wafting  its 
incense  hither,  burst  into  existence,  in  the  midst  of  which 
this  beauteous  angel,  also,  blossomed  out  into  the  rarest  of 
productions,  the  human  being.  She  was,  in  reality,  the 
last  to  appear  upon  the  scene,  but  so  immediately  and 
sequently  as  not  to  lose  the  earliest  preparation  of  the 
beauty  about,  so  completely  a  dearth  without  her  perfec- 
tion, that  the  order  was  scarcely  perceived  in  the  wonder- 
ment at  what  had  so  delightfully  taken  place. 

A  moment  later,  and  while  rapt  in  cherishing  ecstasy  on 
the  view,  the  whole  was  turned  into  confusion,  and  this 
beauty  disappeared  so  as  by  magic,  into  a  veritable  chaos, 
that  a  cry  of  horror  was  scarcely  suppressible.  One 
or  two  of  the  party,  our  younger  representatives,  for- 
got themselves  so  far  as  to  utter  a  low,  spontaneous  cry  of 
chagrin  at  this  transition,  and  when,  a  minute  later,  all 


THE  RETURN  IIOME.  181 

was  again  in  repose,  it  was  no  longer  the  bright  spectacle 
of  restful  bliss,  but  the  seeming  reign  of  brooding  terror. 
A  gray,  murky  tinge  (a  first  indication  of  the  agonizing 
brain  as  it  were)  of  shade  invested  every  coloring  of 
the  desert  landscape ;  a  dreary  object,  at  length,  raised  out 
of  the  scene,  and  a  fixed,  awkward  female  figure,  with 
disheveled  hair,  seemed  transfixed  with  immutable  agony 
as  her  wild,  glazed,  fixed  look  seemed  to  gaze  into  vacancy, 
there  was  little  else. 

Gradually,  almost  imperceptibly,  a  bright  spot  here,  and 
a  barren,  desolate,  despairing  place  there  disclosed  them- 
selves, only  to  vanish  into  the  reverse,  a  realm  of  sordid 
glee,  and  the  quivering  humanity,  visibly  flitting,  sadly 
burdened. 

Not  a  sound  had  thus  far  escaped  the  performers ;  nor 
was  there  any  resort  to  artificial  light,  or  shade  in  any  way 
in  depicting  this  gloom,  which  was  realistically  produced, 
as  well  as  the  preceding  brilliance,  by  their  adroit  use  of 
coloring  in  their  garments  and  arrangement.  Thus  far 
truly  an  exhibition  of  simplicity  had  been  given  with 
means  not  outwitted  by  their  ends  in  the  fac-similes  of 
great  events. 

In  an  instant,  without  any  forewarning  whatever,  or  any 
apparent  effort  at  transition,  the  whole  aspect  burst  into  a 
scene  of  angels,  immaculately  clad,  and  seeming  to  float 
on  white,  fleecy,  golden-tinged  clouds,  when  there  broke 
forth  a  marvel  of  harmony  and  sweet  tones,  that  made 
everyone,  not  excepting  myself  this  time,  heave  an  in  vol- 
untary sigh  of  relief  at  the  promising,  succoring  light. 
How  happy  to  dwell  on  the  unfolded  glory  —  a  happiness 
willing  to  forego  a  taste  again  of  the  pristine.  Sordid- 
ness,  morbidity,  must  but  appall  the  taste  in  a  bilious 
appetite.     Joy  is  in  the  pure  domain. 

This  singing,  which  was  a  song  of  praise  and  glory,  I 


182  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

have  never  heard  excelled,  each  word  being  articulately 
uttered  by  that  great  chorus,  who  sang  in  unison,  but,  such 
tone  and  inflection !  and  each  expression,  full  of  meaning, 
was  accompanied  by  tinkling  sounds  made  from  sea-shells, 
and  metallic  substances  fashioned  almost  from  their  raw 
state,  and  some  from  wood,  arranged  in  chords  and  regis- 
tered and  toned  to  certain  scales,  and,  in  their  use,  each  at  a 
proper  time,  these  gifted  musicians  were  wonderfully  adept. 

Then  followed  a  fantastic  dance,  in  which  the  nimble 
feet  moved  through  the  intricacies  of  the  figures  with 
unerring  precision  and  unsurpassed  grace;  this  represent- 
ation had  but  just  been  created,  showing  their  exquisite 
readiness,  the  adaptability  of  all  good  training  for  an 
emergency. 

They  first  vividly  portrayed,  in  this  pantomime,  their 
consternation  and  surprise  at  our  sudden  unheralded 
appearance;  next  their  delight  at  the  revelations  we 
brought,  which  latter  exhibition  increased  in  ardor  and 
happiness  as  our  future  prospects  had  unfolded  them- 
selves ;  last  an  evident  opposition  or  regret  at  our  depart- 
ure from  them  so  soon,  with  indications  of  the  uncertainty 
of  life,  but  faith  in  the  revived  hope,  fittingly  and  touch- 
ingly  closed  this  view. 

Then  followed,  as  if  the  aggregate  of  them  had  been 
shot  together,  and  all  life  stilled  in  them  as  in  one 
impulse,  another  representative  scene  and  closed  this 
highly  entertaining,  marvelous  affair,  which,  ever  after 
lingered  in  our  memories,  as  we  often  dwelt  on  the  numer- 
ous features,  and,  I  must  confess,  many  an  hour  have  I 
philosophically  lingered  upon  this  lovely  tournament  of 
female  grace,  winsomeness  and  adaptability.  Who  would 
not  wed  a  "Ray  of  Light"  under  such  circumstances? 
Physical  culture  and  mental  endowment  —  a  toast  to  the 
"Ray"  and  the  Turner  forever! 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  183 

In  the  last  scene  there  loomed  up  evidently  their  other 
divinity  or  reverse  ensign,  a  somber,  handsome  figure  in 
black;  the  brown,  thick  hair  enveloped  in  curls  the  large, 
shapely  head,  while  a  kindly  expression  shone  from  the 
face,  a  ready,  burning  flame  of  indignation,  or  a  tranquil, 
wary,  scrutinizing  reflection;  this  was  intelligence,  and 
embraced  in  the  one,  justice,  charity  and  progress. 

Intention  speaks  from  every  lineament 
To  honor  him  who  thinks  and  acts  aright. 

The  setting  about  the  central  figure  was  appropriate  — 
the  surrounding  scene  subdued,  but  not  hopeless;  and  a 
faith,  like  the  little  snow-flower,  fresh  and  vigorous  in  its 
chill,  pale  surroundings,  cropt  out  here  and  there,  conspic- 
uous, despite  the  seeming  identity  with  the  evenness  of 
the  colorless  and  lifeless  embodiment  —  down  below  it 
knows  and  draws  its  sustenance,  preserved  and  refreshed 
by  the  dampness  and  chilliness  —  the  tears  of  cold  despair, 
from  the  cold  draughts  of  the  world. 

I  am  free  to  say  that  I  never  witnessed  an  exhibition 
more  fraught  with  demonstrative  instruction,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  delightful  entertainment.  Even  religion  should 
be  allowed  to  waft  its  spirit  into  all  the  conjectural  nights 
of  the  most  intense  imaginations. 

Imagination  is  not  an  idle  fancy,  but,  a  busy  flight,  in 
every  instance;  in  no  instance  is  it  a  drawback,  if  the 
results  are  calmly  harmonized  with  actual  experience  of 
fact.  Our  anticipations  must  not  only  be  excited  but  our 
judgments  invoked  thereby. 

More  refreshments  followed,  now,  in  addition  to  the 
liquid,  a  light  repast,  consisting  of  some  kind  of  small  fish, 
dried,  some  of  their  kind  of  bread  and  a  sweetened  cake. 

Thereupon  ensued  the  most  amusing  part  of  the  enter- 
tainment.    A  queer,  drastically  appearing  little  man,  who 


184  TIIE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

resembled  intimately  the  accounts  of  so-called  wizards, 
and  with  a  long,  flowing,  black  mantle,  and  a  high  peaked 
hat  of  like  somber  hue,  and  carrying  a  long,  black,  hooked 
staff  in  his  hand,  entered  into  the  center  of  the  space,  but 
a  moment  before  so  charmingly  occupied,  and  was  at  once 
greeted  by  the  multitude  with  welcoming  shouts  of  pleas- 
ure mingled  with  familiar,  good-natured  expressions,  as 
they  seemed  to  hail  his  reappearance,  as  from  an  absence. 
He  was  evidently  a  highly  appreciated  celebrity.  I  felt 
not  a  little  curiosity  at  this  strange  appearance,  unhinted 
at  before,  and  no  less  an  interest  in  the  still  stranger  man, 
whose  very  look  and  gesture  marked  him  different  from 
the  others. 

God  utters  often  by  a  chosen  piece 
Within  his  own  reflection's  pause. 

Striking  a  dramatic  attitude,  which  was  at  once  greeted 
with  shouts  of  approval  for  it  seemed  evident  thereby 
that  he  contemplated  a  humorous  rendition  (the  nature  of 
his  efforts  could  never  be  predetermined,  so  I  was  after- 
wards informed,  in  this  strange  man  of  pure  genius  and 
his  first  indications  were  carefully  noted  to  ascertain  the 
nature  of  that  to  follow,  when  the  whole  proceeded, 
sequently  enough— a  kind  of  inspiration  for  the  several 
times  being — and  the  audience  was  thus  prepared  to  set 
their  countenances  to  the  serious,  comical,  or  semi  of  either, 
as  first  appearances  predicted,  for,  in  either  event,  the  sub- 
ject would  be  handled  and  the  tone  maintained,  which 
would  portray  the  feature  in  life  under  contemplation, 
wTith  a  success  that  never  failed  to  produce  the  legitimate 
effect  of  a  well  and  appropriately  rendered  object),  he 
began,  in  a  scpieaking,  high-pitched  voice  to  recite : 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  185 

"the   adventures    of    a    meddlesome    woman    in    a 
life-time  of  woe." 

"  Daine  Nature  fiddled  never  such  a  tree, 

As  they  would  have  you  know, 
As  rose  from  out  a  rose, 

Without  a  thorn, 
As  spirits  hovered  o'er  the  lea 

To  set  in  prosy  this  game  tree. 
Nor  does  it,  e'er,  behoove  your  simple  self 

To  speak  a  word,  but,  that  has  its  own  creed ; 
For,  if  you  do,  you  will  have  ne'er  a  need 

0'  sarcophagus. 
This  vixenish,  venerable  old  dame  was  mild, 

Mild  for  her  age 
(And,  also,  miled,  for  passing  many  a  stone, 

And  milled  where  they  had  jogged) 
But,  still,  she  had  the  fire  of  the  flame, 

The  flame  of  youth, 
Which  broke  the  veins  asunder  with  her  burst 

Of  tenderness. 
A  cruel  narrative  conveys  this  tale,  once, 

(She's  now  several  score) 
'What  then/  so  says  this  mail, 

'Are  you  in  dread?' 
'Of  what,'  she  snaps,  and  fire  darts  her  eye, 

Her  slumbering  eye ; 
'Heed,  wistful  wight' ,  her  hagly  finger  quakes, 
'Heed  this,  I  say,  heed  this'  — 

'  What  would  you  have  me,  dame  ? ' 
'To  perish,  to  go  beyond  this  realm; 

To  lead  in  abject  misery  a  life, 
To  grovel  with  the  snakes  and  lizards,  toads'  — 

'  Nay,  toads  you  mean  not,  toadies,  aye  ? ' 
'  Ay,  that  so  be  it ;  you  may  toady  to  a  stick, 

I'll  none  o'  ye,  I'll  none  o'  ye ! ' 
So  be  it,  damey,  then,  so  be  it ; 

You'll  none  of  me. 
But,  let  me  tell  you  of  a  little  incident, 

An  incident  of  woe  —  ' 


186  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

'I'll  none  o'  ye,  I'll  none  o'  ye!' 

No,  that  I  know  ; 
But,  yet,  I  shall  narrate  you  one  grave  woe, 

The  woe  of  dread. 
And  slinking,  shivering  to  a  mortal  coil, 

She  reels  upon  her  doubts 
And  throws  a  wisp  of  straw 

To  catch  the  breeze, 
And  make  all  doubtings  doubly  sure 

And  fears  and  fees. 
List!  trembling  woman,  often  didst  thou  scream  and  rant, 

Of  what,  thou  know'st  not, 
Of  which,  thou  car'st  not; 

But,  this  thee  bootest: 
Thou'lt  ne'er  know  peace,  until  thy  eyes  see  clear, 

Thou'lt  know  no  rest  till  then; 
Thou'lt  not  mistake  within  thy  heart  fond  love 

For  wicked  glee; 
Nor  feel  the  impulse  of  a  joy, 

Which  lifts, 
Until  thy  sorrows  shall  have  purged  these  hence, 

These  drifts  of  woe. 
'Ay,  I  have  wandered  o'er  the  lists  not  e'er  in  vain, 

I  have  not  sought,  but  found ; 
My  wisdom  is  not  driv'ling  to  mere  caste, 

I  am  not  proud — nor  downed/ 
Nay,  you  may  fear  me,  or  may  fear  me  not, 

I  am  not  downed  —  nor  drowned/ 
But,  when  I  shake  these  shagly  locks, 

Out  drop'  —  'drop  downs.' 
Yes,  feebly  you  have  trudged  by  many  a  side, 

And,  scarcely,  have  you  touched  the  beam, 
As  many  a  weary  heart  lias  faltered,  fled 

The  saddened  life  between. 
No  sorrow  was  so  great,  as  when  bereft, 

You  felt  this  strangely  clinging  power  cleft, 
Cleft  from  your  means, 

And  you  then  sighed  the  sorrows  of  your  life, 
In  lifeless  dream. 

But,  to  a  tale  of  more  and  joyous  woe, 
That  is,  no  words  of  slander, 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  187 

But,  of  sport ; 
For,  sport  makes  all  this  life  one  merry  round, 

And  finds  therein  much  truth  on  subtle  ground. 
Then,  to  some  sport,  some  light  and  humorous  fun, 

The  thought  now  hatched,  the  frolic  is  begun. 
A  woman's  life  is  much  like  salt  and  ice, 

She's  flavor's  seasoning, 
But,  is  to  man  his  worst  congealing  force, 

When  she's  perverse. 
Like  to  a  summer's  rose,  she  blooms  and  fades, 

Like  to  its  thorns,  she  stings,  when  touched; 
But,  while  the  odor  and  the  ardor  lasts, 

She's  queen  of  joy,  like,  beauty,  is  the  rose. 
Yet,  withering  the  touch  does  blight  the  gleams, 

Which  turn  the  happy  hours  to  moments,  scarce, 
And  can  torment  the  revelations  and  the  scenes 

Of  whither,  that  her  love  and  beauty  went, 
Calm  sight,  queer  realm  where  nought  is  seen, 

Save  that  lost  joy,  that  stole  a  furtive  sheen! 
Such  capers  steal  the  hearts  of  men  away, 

And  steel  their  hearts. 
A  winsome  smile  drives  sorrow  on  its  course, 

A  short  beguile  makes  sorrow  all  the  worse. 
When  nought  appears,  save  fancy,  in  a  dose, 

Then,  fancy,  soon,  had  better  be  morose. 
This  is  the  maiden  sweet,  the  matron  and  the  dame, 

No  thought  is  uppermost,  save  that,  the  same, 
Which  favors  or  ill-favors  any  suit ; 

Which  raises  where  the  drooping  spirits  fall ; 
Where  dwells  the  heart's  fond  fountain, 

Where  leads,  where  lists  his  all, 
There,  there  she  lingers,  or  she  leaves  him,  dropt 

Like  to  the  leaf,  that  she  has  blown  and  cropt. 
Once,  I  was  young,  so,  hollowly,  speaks  this  man, 

Once,  there  was  joy  and  love,  whence  now  this 
ban? 
Once — yes,  I  can  recall, 

Recall  some  things,  of  note  — 
I  can  conceive  the  most  infallible  hour, 

AVhen  silence  is  concerned  with  musing  feats, 
And  not  a  sigh  brings  film  to  eye,  nor  tear 


188  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

9 

Arouses  one  small  impulse  of  a  fear. 
Oh,  woman,  woman,  cropt  from  Paradise, 

Oh,  creature,  creature,  left  to  fond  surmise ! 
I  would  not  have  you  change  one  whit  from  this, 

If  you  were  not  so  much  concerned  with  bliss. 
In  fact,  I  rather  glory  in  your  fraud, 

For,  having  lost   your   coronet,  you    sighed,    and 
hawed, 
Until  himself  was  captured,  this  same  scamp, 

Who,  for  your  sake,  has  turned  into  a  tramp. 
But,  thus  she  scampered,  leading  life  a  trial ! 

Nothing  so  bad,  but  turns  for  good, 
If  you  yourself  are  right;  but,  nothing  so  good, 

That  may  be  bad, 
That  may  not  turn  the  penchants  of  the  heart 

Into  the  stream  of  woe. 
I'll  say,  kind  sister,  temper  not  my  steel 

To  pierce  my  heart  myself. 
I  like  to  see  it,  I  love  to  see  it,  this  fine  carriage,  this  gay 

I  dote  upon  her  haughty  behavior ! 
I  am  as  fond  to  see  a  pretty  child 

Of  nature  — 
I  am  not  fond  to  see  her  pensive  fall ; 

But,  I  would  raise  her  to  the  realms  of  Heaven, 
In  all,  that  her  behooves  and  her  does  call. 

I  am  as,  silently,  fearful  as  a  stone. 
And  I  am  tearful  as  the  dewdrops, 

Nor  weep  a  whitless  more. 
AVhenever  there  is  salt  the  ice  must  melt; 

Hence,  woman  cannot  long  restrain  her  tears, 
Her  little  anguish  and  her  borrowed  fears. 
Unless  congealed  in  waters  where  the  brine  is  weak, 

Compared  with  overweening  cold. 
But  even  there  the  genial  warmth  will  glow  and  burn  — 

Some  time,  a  time,  come  from  above, 
Below,  about,  and  turn  these  icelets  into  fountain  rivulets. 

The  deepest  glow  in  woman  is  her  thought 
Of  freest  impulse,  and  her  love 

For  fondness '  sweet  desire ; 
And  these  will  burst  through  every  gloom  and  rime, 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  189 

No  thought  too  rigid,  but  is  her  warm  theme. 
But,  what  a  chase,  thou  lead'st  me,   maiden,  what  wild 
lore 

Dost  thou  indite  to  musings  and  to  sprites  ? 
I  might  yet  follow,  yet,  I  know  no  more 

Where  thou  mightst  turn  this  failing  trudge  of 
mine, 
No  more,  than  thou  were'st  dead,  or  ding. 
Yet,  I  would  suffer  worlds  to  know  your  heart  — 

To  know  it,  mine  ! 
In  concentration  there  is  force, 

In  comprehension  virtue,  if  you  waste  no   sub- 
stance, 
In  drawing  to  the  center  thereabouts, 

But,  grows  with  stretch ; 
Thence  give  to  one  your  ardor's  sweet  attentive  sense, 

And,  giving  every  incense  of  devotion's  call 
From  one  grand  round  of  knowledge  and  reflection's  self, 

Place  to  your  grace  what  graceful  is  itself. 
One  woman  is  as  fond 

As  many  fair; 
One  smile  more  to  be  prized, 

Than    laughter    from    a    hundred    hoarse-grown 
throats 
From  hollow  sounds. 
Would  you  taste  of  the  sweetest  of  all  inspired  love, 

Drown  multitude  of  sins  to  make  a  sough. 

Life  is  a  dream, 
A  dream  of  women  — 

Her  grace,  her  winsomeness,  her  smile ; 
Her  happy  hours,  that  lead  us  to  beguile 

Us  into  woe. 
Sad,  sorrily  do  we  beshrew  her  cause, 

Worse,  worryingly  do  we  forever  pause, 
Pause  at  her  brink,  or,  bridged  it,  over  goes, 

Or  to  the  chasm  plunged  in  utter  throes. 
What  fearful  picture  I  do  paint  of  bliss. 

No  woman  is  so  lovely,  but  she  fears  my  paint. 
I  would  not  paint  her,  were  she  nature's  elf; 

But,   when  she   shrinks   and   shrivels,   she    does 
that  herself. 


190  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

My  nature  is  as  fond,  and  visage  wise, 

As  he,  who  has  a  dozen  several  wives, 
And  I  had  none; 

For,  none  to  have,  is  one  yet  I  may  get ; 
But,  to  have  some, 

And,  ever,  yet,  regret, 
That  such  and  such  a  one  lias,  e'er,  been  got, 

Is  better  to  have  none,  and  none  to  fret. 
But,  having  one,  'tis  best  to  have  no  more, 

For,  more,  than  one,  lead  life  a  divers  pace 
And  much  diversity  lacks  solemn  grace. 

But,  best  it  is  to  have  one,  sure  and  true, 
Such  inward  bliss  no  man  will  ever  rue. 
But,  should  she  prove  a  burden,  cast 

It  off,  the  burden  ; 
For,  she  will  sing  as  sweetly  as  the  meadow-lark, 

And  soar  as  high, 
When  clear  and  tranquil  is  her  sky; 

But,  do  not  touch  her  vanity  with  your  fork, 
That  prongs  with  several  tendencies  your  tact, 

But,  be  as  noble,  when  you  guide  her  heart, 
As  lie,  who  treasures  but  the  unguent  fact, 

That  hearts  were  made  to  cherish,  not  to  break. 
And  I  would  ne'er  be  crabbed  Avere  my  core  not  sour. 

How  many  times  I've  pondered  o'er  a  throb! 
It  is  the  everturning  knob, 

That  gives  admission  by  the  opened  door! 
And  I  would  utter  greetings  from  within  to  those  without, 

Who  would  come  in  ; 
But,  how  I  dreaded  hesitation  at  the  door, 

I  knew  not,  happily,  or,  whether,  sore. 
In  pending  evils  oft  the  thoughts  run  wild, 

As  they  course  over  this  and  that,  when  chilled 
They  are  as  plightful  as  their  doubts, 

And,  when  they  hesitate,  they  thrive  no  more. 
Fond  maiden,  had  you,  ever,  recked  a  beating  heart  ? 

If  not,  you've  wrecked  a  many  a  waiting  life; 
You've  been  a  fire-brand  where  straw  was  rife ! 

Rife,  for,  it  was  straw;  and  straw,  because, 
This  life  is  withered  and  bleached,  cropt  of  its  head, 

When  through  the  threshings  grains  were  sought 

inel-oarl 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  191 

I'd  be  a  farmer,  and  my  flowers  should  be  wild  — 
This  gentle  sprout,  this  handsome  sprig, 
That  overwhelming,  gorgeous  rose 

Should    flourish    with    the    dewdrops    and    the 
honey-bee, 
And,  sinking  low,  with  perishing  there 

Enrich  themselves  for  future  consonance. 
One  short  and  brief,  consoling  thought  —  once  more ; 

Soon  I'll  be  hence,  and  those,  who  follow  o'er, 
Will  not  have  lost  this  consonance,  to  tread  the  path, 

O'er  which  sad  fright  is  one  and  all  the  same. 
If  this  white  hand  should  reach  from  out  the  gloom 

(Or,  being  dark,  should  loom  best  by  the  moon) 
Its  tender  touch  yields  its  own  guiding  sway, 
I'd  be  as  happy  as  the  live-long  day, 
Which  finds  no  fault,  recurring  as  it  may. 

I'd  be  a  lovely  child,  coursed  towards  Heaven! 
But,  when  she  falters,  oh,  my  May-day  queen, 

I'd  rather,  that  an  earthy  worm 
Had  wormed  my  hide 

At  finished  pilgrimage. 
If  you  can  gather  to  spend  all  with  one, 

You've  gained  the  bliss,  completely,  to  your  own. 
A  point's  a  point,  and  several  points  prick  sore 

Where  not  the  sore  sought  with  the  easing  prick, 
When  more  applied,  than  one  there  for  in  vogue. 
Then,  let  me  sing  this  little  warbling  lay : 

Calmly,  calmly,  sweetly  is  the  day, 
When  sights  and  thoughts  in.  harmony,   when  plaisance, 
not  delay, 
Will  bring  the  mind  to  fulminate  —  its  play, 
Its  joyous  play. 

When  little  objects  tremble  in  the  balance  — 
When  they  constringe  to  every  other  sign ; 

When  higher  objects,  than  the  creeds,  are  lower- 
ing 
To  lend  their  welcome  shade  — 

A  child's  so  simple  thoughts  are  true ; 
A  man  accomplishes  to  rue. 

Kind  friends,  we  bid  you  "now  farewell,  farewell; 
Though  you  may  course  o'er  main,  and  steal  at  night 


192  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

The  same  continuous  course  as  by  the  day, 
Unsleeping  hope  and  faith  shall  guide  you  — 

Shall  guide  you  hence  and  hither; 
For,  when  returning  thoughts  bring  listing  sighs, 

'Tis  well  to  have  the  avenues  remain  the  same. 
But,  as  all  memories  dread  evil  things  of  Past, 

111  were  it  to  deny  to  us  your  joyful  stay. 
But,  may  your  memories  dwell  with  ease  and  joy  — 

Whiled  where  you  joyed,  there  happy  was  delay; 
And  Avhat  sole  grief  was  felt 

Was,  when  you  went  away. 
All  happy  thoughts  range  with  a  grief  so  pure, 

That  hearts,  in  feebleness,  can  this  endure." 

And  this  strange  man  glided  away,  all  grace  and  ease  of 
silent  movement,  so  that  an  air  of  mystery  seemed  to 
attend  his  vanishing  powers. 

The  exercises  completed  hereby,  we  had  arisen  for  the 
final  ceremonies  of  farewell.  I  was  presently  informed 
that  the  man  who  had  just  entertained  us,  desired  an 
interview  with  me,  and  I  was  equally  very  anxious  to 
meet  him. 

This  individual  was  their  poet  —  their  master-mind, 
their  philosopher;  it  was  he,  who  had  instructed  the 
"Rays  of  Light"  in  their  beautiful  maneuvers  and  was  the 
guiding  spirit  of  the  organization  —  who  could  develop 
the  poetry  of  motion,  physical  combination,  as  well  as 
lingual  expression. 

That  he  was  queer  and  eccentric,  is  but  the  resulting 
estimation  placed  upon  all  natural  genius ;  but  as  the 
undoubted  leader  among  these  people,  he  ranked  beyond 
any  misconstruction. 

He  approached  me  with  a  quizzical  look  in  his  wizened 
features;  his  brown  eyes  shone  with  intelligent  and  lumin- 
ous brilliance,  as  their  dark  tints  contrasted  with  his  pal- 
lid features,  and  his  long,  brown,  fine  hair  and  whiskers 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  193 

gracefully  draped  his  evenly  shaped  head  surmounting  a 
thin,  sinewy  body,  that  appeared  flexible  and  wiry  in  his 
costume,  which  so  appropriately  set  it  off  that  I  was  at 
once  lost  in  admiration  of  this  "typical  impersonation"  of 
genius. 

Close  proximity  dissolved  the  illusion  of  grotesqueness 
in  his  appearance,  which  he  was  successful  in  manipulating 
to  the  sight  at  a  distance.  In  person,  then,  he  was  hand- 
some, refined  and  noble;  and,  as  his  reflective  gaze  seemed 
to  comprehend  my  very  existence,  it  was  with  such  a 
kindly  light,  that  I  felt  drawn  to  and  with  full  of  confi- 
dence in  him.  Such  a  man,  who  would  befriend  woman, 
virtue,  and  whose  undaunted  might  is  a  terror  to  evil- 
designers  ! 

Advancing  within  respectful  reach,  he  proffered  his 
hand,  which  I  seized  in  my  fervent  grasp.  He  cordially 
said  he  was  overjoyed  to  meet  me.  Expressing  my 
unfeigned  delight  at  what  we  had  beheld  of  him,  I  stated 
that  my  regret  was  not  to  have  known  him  previously; 
he  smiled  gently  and  replied  that  the  auspiciousness  of  an 
occasion  had  much  to  do  with  agreeable  impressions,  and 
that  he  had  hoped  not  to  render  himself  obnoxious. 

Leading  me  then  apart,  and  slowly  walking  on,  he  began 
a  conversation  which  has  remained  memorable  to  me. 
"Young  man,"  he  quietly  resumed,  "we  look  towards  you 
for  a  great  development  of  our  people,  and  a  lifting  of  the 
veil  that  has  so  long  surrounded  us;  in  the  opportunities, 
which  will  follow  our  mutual  intercourse,  do  you  guarantee 
us  your  personal  endeavor,  the  exposition  of  the  refined 
mental  faculties,  the  exposition  of  faith,  the  expressions, 
practically  and  in  instruction,  of  candor  and  routine,  such 
as  a  mind  can  disclose  in  its  revelations  from  a  search  into 
the  orthodoxy  of  faith?  Our  spirits  will  meet  on  joint 
ground." 


194  THE  TROUBLE    OF   LIVING  ALONE. 

Thereupon  he  pressed  my  hand,  and  had  vanished 
almost  instantly,  turning  abruptly  and  disappearing  in  the 
direction  my  back  was  turned  to. 

Life  is  too  short  to  waste  in  idle  proof, 
Too  brief  to  ponder  in  a  misty  quest ! 

Did  his  spirit  reflect  this  to  me  ? 

Too  astonished  at  the  suddenness  of  the  affair,  I  hardly 
realized  his  act,  yet  am  forced  to  admire  the  force  of  his 
tact  —  intent  as  I  was  on  his  speech,  and  impressed  by  it 
as  I  am  forever.  My  surprise  and  confusion  increased 
when  in  my  hand  I  found  he  had  left  a  small  book  and  a 
rudely  fashioned  ring  of  crude  gold.  I  placed  these  two 
objects  in  my  pocket  and  sought  my  friends. 

They  had  witnessed  the  scene  with  astonishment  and 
marveled  considerably  at  what  could  have  taken  place 
between  us.  My  pensive  look,  upon  my  return,  was  by  no 
means  reassuring  to  them ;  the  judges  themselves  seemed 
concerned  for  me.  I  was  so  deeply  impressed  by  the  mys- 
terious mesmeric  influences  that  this  man  seemed  to  carry 
in  his  wake,  I  felt  for  good,  elevating,  and  I  loved  him,  that 
I  was  anxious  to  return  to  the  ship  and  to  enter  my  bunk 
to  ponder  and  reflect,  in  solitude  and  darkness,  upon  those 
kindly  eyes,  which  beamed  pity  and  compassion  in  their 
every  look;  whilst  an  embracing  wisdom  glowed  in  the 
aspect  of  his  countenance. 

Ten  of  these  people  had  been  selected  and  eagerly 
agreed  to  go  with  us  to  our  home  —  an  elderly  merchant, 
wife  and  two  daughters,  aged,  the  last,  respectively,  about 
eighteen  and  sixteen  years,  three  skilled  artisans,  in  their 
clothing,  building  and  utensil  works,  and  an  intelligent 
young  farmer  and  his  bride,  and  the  bride's  younger 
sister,  a  maiden  eighteen  years  of  age. 

By  the  way,  they  had  an  orderly,  rigid  institution  of 


THE  RETURN  HOME.  195 

marriage ;  in  fact,  were  a  people  prone  to  strict  morality, 
and  encouraged  early  marriages  in  their  young  people, 
universally  and  in  general,  for  that  sake.  Their  physical 
culture  wrought  wonders  in  their  moral  and  healthy 
developments. 

Having  gathered  all  of  the  intended  party  together,  we 
proceeded  to  the  beach,  accompanied  by  the  entire 
concourse,  where  the  final  adieus  were  affectionately  inter- 
changed, and  a  God-speeding  shout  given  us  by  the  multi- 
tude, as  we  drew  off  the  shore;  soon  on  board  we  at 
once  made  every  preparation  for  the  night  and  each 
promptly  took  to  his  or  her  assigned  post  or  quarters 
of  rest,  with  an  early  start  in  contemplation  the  next 
morning. 

With  the  first  break  of  day  all  were  astir  on  shipboard, 
but  a  fog  hid  the  land  from  view ;  without  waiting  for  the 
fog  to  lift,  we  concluded  to  raise  our  anchors,  and  with  a 
farewell  blast  of  our  steam-whistles,  were  directly 
steaming  out  to  sea,  and  homeward. 

Our  hearts  were  gay  —  we  anticipated  reunion  with  our 
loved  ones ;  when  we  could  recount  to  them,  knowing  their 
appreciation,  the  wonders  of  our  journey  and  exhibit  and 
present  to  them  the  tokens  from  our  new  friends  and  field 
of  enterprise.  The  natives  of  this  part,  who  would, 
furthermore,  emphasize  and  make  more  realistic  our  dis- 
coveries, were  enthusiastic  with  the  prospects,  the  novel- 
ties, and  the  measure  of  distinction  they  were  enjoying  — 
and  they  were  not  disappointed,  the  world  exceeding  all 
expectations  in  the  wonders  it  has  and  may  have  wrought. 
We  had  made  no  savage  discovery  nor  a  ferocious  develop- 
ment. We  learned  to  what  man's  misfortune  may  sink  him 
in  the  propensity  of  the  masses,  led  from,  or  his  course 
swayed ;  in  the  desert,  savage  wilds  the  natures  conform- 
ing to  the  surroundings.     Individuality  is  the  exercise  of 


196  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

self.  The  reflective  powers  of  the  only  creatures  capable 
are  so  lowly  at  ebb. 

The  space  of  the  world  is  required  and  an  exposition  of 
its  contents  no  less  and  therefor.  They  are  potent  to  this 
effect  and  increase  our  knowledge  in  our  time.  Well  it  is 
to  magnify  a  thing  to  see  its  details,  not  to  engross  it 
beyond  reality. 

Fie  upon  any  prohibition !  Replace  it  by  liberal  educa- 
tion and  manfully  prosecute  the  latter.  Tend  to  the 
purity  of  all  provisions ! 

We  may  flatter  our  vanities ;  but,  the  World's  Fair 
admonishes  our  mutual  esteem. 


Chicago,  art  thyself  exhibited  a  fair; 
Fair  to  behold  where  enterprise  built  stays 
And  worldly  artifice  match  living  grace, 
As  it  demonstrates  daily  moving  view 
With  any  art  or  science  brought  to  sight ; 
Worth  such  a  fair  alone  the  seeming  price. 
Ah !  while  you  teem  in  priceless  tone  such  arts, 
The  enterprise  and  science  known  to  man  — 
Alone  can  rear  such  works  so  near  the  skies 
And  tower  with  your  teeming  mankind's  sprites, 
The  western  star,  to  which  such  wisdom  scans, 
Is  luminous  truth  and  full  of  earthly  lore, 
Is  rife  -with  Heavenly  pinnacles  for  worth. 
From  off  those  lofty  roofs  range  with  the  sight 
To  where  the  groveling  mankind  lists  and  waits, 
And  casting  thither  shed  thy  rays  of  light; 
Descend  then  from  uncertain,  dizzy  heights, 
Reared  for  the  aspect  o'er  the  rounding  gloom, 
To  spread  such  possibil'ties  o'er  the  Earth 
As  leveling  to  bring  on  general  Light. — 
So  courteous  entertainment  graced  thy  board, 
That  lords  were  alL — and  lordly  they  accord. 


HOME.  197 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 
home! 

We  steamed  directly  in  the  direction  which  our  records 
prescribed  to  us,  and  the  return  voyage  was  uneventful. 

We  were  anxious  to  finish  our  first  tour  and  make  it  a 
complete  and  successful  one;  besides,  inward  yearnings 
were  driving  us  with  haste  thitherward,  where  we 
esteemed  kind  hearts  beating  for  us  and  daily  anxious 
eyes  were  scrutinizing  the  horizon  for  our  safe  return. 

Thus  we  continued,  rapidly  and  favorably,  until  on  the 
twelfth  day  towards  evening  we  saw  a  dark  outline  in  the 
distance,  which  we  correctly  judged  to  be  our  welcoming 
haven.  We  steamed  on  until  the  shore  was  very  appar- 
ent; but  the  shades  of  evening  were  fast  settling,  where- 
upon we  called  council  and  although  hardly  able  to 
contain  ourselves,  for  eagerness  to  rush  right  in,  our  cooler 
reflections  and  counsels  prevailed,  that  the  undisturbed 
night's  repose  would  better  prepare  our  loved  ones  for  the 
happy  surprises  so  near  in  store;  and  we,  also,  would  be 
refreshed  by  rest,  so  we  argued,  though,  I  believe,  a  fal- 
lacy, as  the  prospects  of  the  morrow  hardly  favored  sleep 
in  our  excited  minds. 

Dawn  brought  out  our  eager  preparations  for  the 
denouement  to  ensue  on  this  memorable  day,  fraught  with 
happiness  for  many  hearts.  Our  garments  were  made  as 
pleasant  looking  as  possible.  Our  ship-deck  was  cleaned 
and  polished  up,  and  everyone  was  in  scarcely  suppressed 
excitement,  including  our  guests,  who  could  not  have 
escaped  the  mere  contagion.     After  swallowing  a  hasty, 


198  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

scarcely  regarded  breakfast,  we  slowly  entered  our  cher- 
ished bourn. 

Kind  reader,  have  you  ever  felt  a  misgiving;  a  loaded, 
heavy  feeling,  that  seemed  to  smother  your  heart,  that 
seemed  to  press  down  on  you  until  you  would  have  cried 
out? 

As  a  disappointment,  an  ill,  even  a  so-called  sorrow  must 
have  its  spirit,  so  these  must  travel  and  disclose  them- 
selves somewhere  in  their  existence,  as  omens ;  perchance, 
their  whispering  admonitions  are  to  strengthen  and 
encourage  the  soul  to  meet  these  inevitable  happenings; 
perhaps,  to  feel  the  pulse  for  its  enduring  stay,  or  to 
fathom  and  prepare  the  mysteries  of  all  life. 

Should  the  head  bow  in  sorrow,  may  the  heart  shrink 
from  the  task  before  it  ?  But  the  soul,  the  translucent 
spirit  should  ever  pierce  the  seeming  darkness,  that  would 
enshroud  with  feeble  mysteries  the  light  of  brave  con- 
scientious endeavor! 

Our  approach  had  been  seen  and  was  communicated  to 
all  on  shore ;  we  could,  through  our  glasses,  see  every 
demonstration  of  signaling  they  were  capable  of  making, 
as  at  length  we  signaled  them  with  our  whistle,  and,  hav- 
ing approached  near  enough,  could  hear  their  merry 
shouts.  "With  a  full  pressure  of  steam  we  made  quick 
headway,  but  made  our  way  around  to  the  mouth  of  the 
little  stream,  where,  it  will  be  remembered,  we  had  a  nat- 
ural harbor,  and  safely  stowed  our  vessel. 

There,  too,  the  approach  to  land  was  so  near,  that  we 
had  previously  constructed  a  permanent  gangway  out  to 
where  we  could  bring  the  vessel,  and  thus  make  a  ready 
and  easy  landing.  Perceiving  our  course,  the  multitude, 
a  small  multitude  now  compared  with  the  "crowds"  we 
had  just  witnessed,  made  its  way  hastily  to  the  harbor, 
where  they  all  arrived  some  time  before  us.     But  all  anx- 


HOME.  199 

iety  must  at  length  cease  —  or  new  take  its  place  —  and  so 
we  drew  in  and  greeted  and  interchanged  shouts  upon 
shouts  with  them ;  scarcely  within  touch  of  the  end  of  the 
landing-gang,  when  the  rush  onto  the  deck  began  with  no 
attention  to  the  strangers  on  board,  who  stood  with 
wonderment  and  excitement  depicted  on  their  counte- 
nances. Strong  arms  enfolded  quivering,  happy  forms, 
whose  arms  encircled  swarthy  necks  in  passionately,  ten- 
derly loving  embrace;  or  hands  were  grasped,  and  child- 
ish and  baby  lips  uttered  their  glee. 

Where  did  I  look  ? 

Kind  reader,  in  vain  ! 

My  greeting  was  very  cordial ;  but  I  needed  to  ask  no 
question,  and  did  not,  to  interpret  the  pitying  looks  that 
in  my  anxiety  I  readily  perceived — and  when  the  mother 
of  Kathleen  burst  into  tears  with  her  head  on  the  bosom 
of  Kathleen's  father,  I  standing  very  near,  I  needed  to 
make  no  attempt  to  hear,  "our  Kathleen  is  no  more." 
The  strong  frame  of  the  man  and  father  shook,  as  he 
half-turned,  then  bowed  his  head  and  face  on  the 
uncovered  head  of  his  wife  as  he  clasped  her  closer 
to  him,  seeming  to  understand,  as  though  full  ex- 
planation had  been  given  by  those  few,  sad,  heart-rending 
words. 

I  said  nothing  —  but  turned  away  towards  the  hitherto 
neglected  guests  of  ours,  and  speaking  a  few  words  by  way 
of  attracting  the  attention  from  them,  made  them  aware 
of  the  moment  when  they  should  be  duly  presented ;  but, 
before  that  became  my  performance,  I  was  considerately 
relieved,  in  a  few  well-chosen,  heart-spoken  words  from 
Captain  Mason,  and  I  retired  —  for,  in  all  that  throng,  I 
was  the  only  one  in  sorrow:  my  all,  my  only  special  object 
had  vanished. 

I  was  calm  and  no  agitation  had  come  to  the  surface,  if, 


200  THE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

in  fact,  it  had  gained  time  to  exist,  except  that  a  slight 
pallor  may  have  betrayed  something  unusual. 

After  a  while,  the  sixteen-year-old  younger  sister,  who 
seems  to  have  thoroughly  understood,  as  well  as  from  the 
confidences  of  her  sister  as  her  own  observation  of  both  of 
us,  the  tenderness  of  regard  between  us,  told  me  briefly  — 
it  required  not  many  words  to  narrate  how  a  swift  fever 
had  despoiled  the  flower  of  my  deeply  awakened,  purest 
affection,  the  natural,  spiritual,  supernatural  impulse 
between  man  and  woman;  that  regard  which  underlies 
the  fundament  of  all  existence  of  virtue  and  happiness. 
Her  words  had  often  lingered  about  me;  her  eyes  roved  in 
the  direction  I  had  gone,  and  in  her  delirium  was  the  rapt 
joy  of  an  united  bliss  between  us! 

Yet  I  was  unmoved  save  that  the  pallor  in  my  counte- 
nance may  have  increased  somewhat. 

At  the  festive  board  I  occupied  a  silent  but  not  undigni- 
fied seat;  the  subdued  nature  of  the  otherwise  festive 
occasion  did  not  even  disturb  my  tranquillity,  and  the 
speeches  brief  though  they  were,  by  the  school-master, 
Captain  Mason,  and  by  one  of  our  guests,  were  happy  and 
facile  enough  in  the  allusions  to  the  many  commendable 
living  issues  and  the  happy  accomplishment  of  our 
undertaking. 

Kathleen's  mother,  tearfully  enough,  towards  evening 
found  opportunity  to  inform  me  of  the  particulars  of  the 
sad  demise  which  had  occurred  shortly  after  we  had  left — 
left  her  in  health  and  buoyant,  expectant  spirits,  expecta- 
tion all  excepting  our  own  possible  loss — and  now  her 
grave  was  already  beginning  to  grow  green,  under  the 
covering  and  hiding  garb  of  consoling  nature. 

I  presume  that  evening  was  interestingly  spent  by 
hosts  and  guests  ;■  but  I  had  busied  myself  with  writing 
and  the  completion  of  records,  which  consumed,  at  least, 


HOME.  201 

so  many  feverish  hours,  and  I  hailed  the  moonlit  night, 
having  not  dared  to  gaze  upon  the  gorgeously  beautiful 
sunset  of  that  benign  evening,  when  nature  vied  with  the 
most  tranquil  happy  thoughts,  but  I  stole  out  to  the  grave 
of  my  sleeping  darling. 

The  early  autumn  was  beginning  to  dry  up  the  grasses, 
and  flowers  and  herbage  wore  a  matured  look ;  oh,  how  all 
suggested  the  ripeness  of  harvest-time  —  ay,  harvest  past, 
and  the  few  remaining  stalks  blighted. 

MY    DARLING'S    GRAVE. 

Death  steals  one  furtive  glance,  then,  slinks  away; 

But,  bears  upon  its  wings  the  shining  ray, 

Which  it  has  borrowed  to  light  up  its  glance. 

Ah,  how  it  bore  to  angels  what  an  angel  were 

In  all  the  purer  part  of  hearts ;  it  leads  the  darkened  path, 

Which  lighted  is  by  such  a  soul  as  this, 

Unveils  the  gloom  to  utter,  blithesome  bliss. 

That  this  meek  silence  should,  here,  reign,  to  mock 

The  would-be  anguish  of  my  soul,  just  robbed 

Of  its  own  kindred  spirit,  led  to  its  altar 

By  this  spirit  of  its  binding  kind  — 

Good  God!  the  sigh  is  not  assuring  to  the  mind! 

The  throb,  which  in  the  heart  brings  pain 

And,  momentarily,  is  fraught  with  threats, 

That,  ever,  not  a  soul  shall  course  again, 

But,  cursing,  shall  forever,  thus,  refrain 

To  yield  its  spirit  to  its  spirit's  chime, 

Is  plunged  in  depths  of  misery  from  time  to  time. 

Time  shall  not  cease,  where  misery  therein  pent. 

Eternity,  forever,  flees  its  bourn, 

Nor  stays  in  limits  where  the  hearts-yearn  burn, 

For,  nigh  to  Heaven,  not  to  hades,  is  rest. 

That  solemn  search,  eternity  in  quest, 

Errs  least,  when  feeble  with  its  timely  touch. 

Nor  is  one  solemn  evidence  so  full  of  fear, 

That  those,  who  will,  cannot  alway  forbear. 

When  led  unto  the  portals  of  this  sleep, 


202  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

Thai  to  the  ethereal  realms  takes  spirits  hence, 

What  consolation  is  there  left,  to  seek 

What  remnant,  visibly,  is  left  behind, 

When,  to  its  earth,  it  soon  must  be  confused, 

Of  earth,  its  prime  delight,  hence,  there  so  used  ? 

But,  spiritually   flee,  too,  with  its  spirit's  flight, 

And  there  commune,  too,  as  it  must  there  dwell 

In  bliss,  in  joy,  in  glory  unconfined ! 

A  brief  duress,  then,  following,  thus,  its  bent, 

Your  spirit  usefully  will  seek  the  hour, 

When  rest  is  welcome  to  this  freedom's  bower  — 

Such  rest,  which  flees  no  healthy  exercise. 

Ah,  gnashed  and  torn,  no  heart  will  long  endure, 

But,  healing  not,  will  soon  be  felt  no  more. 

The  intervening  space  the  mind  must  spell 

With  thoughts  and  deeds,  accomplishments,  as  well  — 

No  happy  hearts  have  ever  wrought  grand  deeds, 

For,  happiness  to  indolence  misleads 

And  brings  more  sorrow  than  it  e'er  has  cleft, 

For,  during  it,  it  oft  forgets  to  help ; 

Or  causes  grief  by,  usually,  its  neglect; 

As,  being  painless,  it  thus  never  recks 

The  other's  cause,  nor  apprehends  his  becks. 

But,  where  the  heart  is  porous  from  its  pains, 

That  darted  have  in  all  its  quivering  walls  — 

There  is  each  passage  for  the  message-woes, 

Soft,  inner  couching  for  their  sick-nursed  throes. 

On  furtive   joy  some   sorrow   may  steal,  swiftly,  in   its 

stead ; 
But,  winnowing  grief  can  leave  no  chaff  of  joy; 
Yet,  from  the  mist  the  radiant  peace  and  promise  may 

glow, 
When  gloom,  again,  has  burst  to  show  the  light, 
Whose  slanting  beams  shed  on  its  rays  aright. 
Successive  griefs  build  up  a  strengthened  man; 
Succeeding  ones  but  break  a  woman's  heart ; 
Thus,  taking  them  together  and  apart, 
The  thing  that  welds  the  master,  wields  the  seam, 
The  two  together  make  the  strong  esteem. 
Death  is  no  monster,  black,  as,  though,  it  seems, 
Or  lurid,  in  the  wildest  fancy  of  some  frames ; 


HOME.  203 

But,  is  the  innocent  child's  soft,  soothing  rest, 

To  which  it  yields,  fatigued  from  ardent  play, 

And  sinks,  profoundly,  to  its  blessed  allay. 

Death  is  a  calm  repose  within  its  state, 

By  which  the  soul  goes  in  untrammeled  flight 

To  yonder  pale.     Nought  comforts  a  troubled  heart, 

At  this  dear  one's  departure  to  the  realm, 

Save  preparation,  that  leads  to  the  same. 

The  earthly  night's  repose  steals  no  dear  friend, 

Because,  yourself  engaged  to  the  same  end. 

But,  when  the  severance  is  disunion's  cause, 

In  mind,  intention,  effect,  in  divers  laws, 

The  sadness  of  the  moment  recks  further  days. 

Yet,  silence  is  not  gained  by  wild  career ; 

Just  as  repose  is  troubled  by  wrought  cares, 

Or  trembles,  sorely,  balanced  by  grave  fears. 

So  must  the  soul  be  tarnished,  or  be  wrecked, 

Which,  in  this  life,  has  its  calm  radiance  flecked; 

And,  solely,  purging  itself  by  sought  grace, 

Can,  only,  thus,  its  afflicture  efface. 

Nor  is  the  night,  which  brings  the  sweet  repose ; 

The  day,  before,  makes  that,  which,  then,  you  chose. 

And,  with  its  evil,  so,  the  night  grows  long, 

As  with  the  evil  unrest  there  is  strong, 

So  will  the  tempest,  thus,  endure  its  night; 

But,  if,  e'er,  day,  depends  on  other  sight. 

If  first  from  gloom  there  into  light  was  launched, 

And,  rounding  out,  gloom  is  again  ensconced, 

The  figure  full,  gloom  will,  then,  never  end  — 

Eternity  will,  thus,  fore'er,  depend : 

Mean  bright  will  stay,  ends  meet  in  gloom  endure, 

And  dark  and  light  will  be  forevermore, 

The  one  attend  the  other  —  space  the  universe. 

And  every  sign  and  thing  rounds  its  full  course, 

And,  for  that  one,  complete  is  for  its  corse. 

New  hopes,  fresh  joys,  rise  from  each  fallen  hope, 

This  we  esteem ;  but,  lost  are  opportunities  lost. 

For,  light,  forever,  fades  away, 

To  leave  in  darkness  what  may  decay. 

And  wrongs,  conceived,  give  birth  to  direful  deeds ; 

And  these  must  flourish,  such  as  each  thing  speeds : 


204  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Thus,  if,  forever,  each  thing  must  advance, 

Your  creed  cannot  dispense  the  wrong,  perchance  — 

In  Mercy  lies  the  only  seat  of  Bliss ; 

With  Faith  thereof  the  spirit's  stubborn  part 

Made  soft  and  pliable  to  fit  the  joy, 

That  tender  is,  hence,  cannot  bear  a  crush  ; 

Which  rounded  is,  thus,  must  have  flexioned  touch 

To  fit  unto  its  surface  without  crease.  — 

Oh,  Mercy,  render  my  poor  Faith  so  pure, 

That,  despite  sorrow,  I  may,  hence,  endure  ! 

Kathleen  had  towards  the  last  been  almost  engaged 
with  kind  words  of  my  memory ;  her  ardor  had  unfolded 
to  full  devotion  for  me ;  and  in  her  delirious,  last  moments 
she  was  wandering  with  me  over  pleasant  places.  Her 
affectionate,  devotedly  tender  sister  was  charged  with  the 
several  messages;  and  her  mother  bore  the  information 
of  Kathleen's  love. 

Life  wore  a  more  sedate  aspect  than  ever  before ; 
I  had  nothing  before  me  but  an  earnest  endeavor,  and  to 
any  vow  in  that  regard  the  spirit  of  my  departed  yet  ever 
cherished  darling  was  the  only  witness,  as  with  my  head 
bowed  over  her  grave,  I  attributed  every  virtue  to  her 
memory,  and  my  body  lingered,  in  that  still  midnight,  over 
where  her  loved  one  lay  shrouded  in  the  cool  earth 
underneath. 


A  CALM  LIFE  205 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

A  CALM  LIFE. 

Folly  spends  more  than  the  rich  garner  and  indolence  fastens  on  vice 
as  consuming  harnacles.  "Mechanics"  do  their  "  stiffly  "  taught  task. 
Transmission  is  the  effectual  action  of  self-constituency,  while  pride  is 
the  bursting  inflation  that  flattens  everything  to  the  earth.  Faith 
accomplishes  the  unnatural,  establishes  its  natural  course  and  portrays 
this. 

The  ensuing  period  of  my  life  had  the  laudable  object 
of  devotion  to  my  friends,  in  which  I  included  those  whom 
we  had  recently  discovered. 

The  representatives  who  had  come  with  us  had  speed- 
ily ingratiated  themselves  into  the  good  graces  and  society 
of  our  entire  company ;  the  three  unmarried  maidens  were 
already  the  objects  of  much  assiduous  attention  from  as 
many  zealous  youths  of  our  circle,  and,  as  their  attentions 
were  by  no  means  disagreeable  apparently,  the  imminence 
of  cemented  union  was  noticeable,  and  auspiciously 
regarded. 

The  three  masters  of  mechanical  arts  who  had  also 
accompanied  us,  had  left  their  families  behind.  Now  that 
they  had  accomplished  sufficient  to  report  an  examination 
into  affairs  here,  they  yearned  for  a  return  to  their  loved 
ones  (attachment  to  family  being  marked  among  these 
people,  as,  always,  where  virtue  reigns ;  and  as  is  perfectly 
natural,  of  course),  but  begged  the  privilege  of  returning 
with  them  and  residing  here,  which  we  were  glad  to  grant, 
feeling  the  honor  of  their  choice  and  request. 

Preparations  were  soon  making  for  a  return  voyage  to 
the  land  of  our  discovery.     The  merchant  and  his  family, 


206  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

as  well  as  the  bridal  couple  referred  to,  were  permanently 
ensconced  among  us.  They  were  all  very  useful  persons 
to  us,  of  course,  and  added  new  life,  encouragement  and 
vigor  to  our  institutions. 

I  had  become  a  sort  of  annalist  and  political  economist 
among  them,  for  which  purpose  an  "office"  of  this  sort 
was  created.  In  fact,  I  was  what  might,  in  civilized  coun- 
tries, be  designated  the  editor  and  news  publisher. 

Of  all  the  callings  in  the  world,  that  of  the  "news- 
paper" appears  to  me  the  most  important — the  most  valu- 
able, as  it  is  the  most  dangerous  to  the  community.  The 
finest  tact ;  the  most  sensitive  appreciation  of  honor  and 
propriety ;  the  calmest  spirit  of  discrimination ;  yet, 
withal,  the  dauntless  courage  of  true  conviction,  but  tem- 
pered again  with  justice  —  the  ancient  Greeks  would  have 
created  a  special  divinity  for  this,  our  modern,  institution, 
and  sainted,  or  semi-deified  its  successful  votaries.  The 
community  is  more  at  the  mercy  of  this  calling,  than  of 
any  other,  and  its  ready  influence  on  the  masses  is  its 
greatest  aggravation.  Where  it  caters  to  sordidness,  and 
develops  all  the  baseness  in  our  characters,  under  the 
advertisement  of  ready  means  for  its  gratification,  or 
parades  the  colors  of  vice,  or,  under  the  protection  of 
licensed  gossip,  enters  into  the  private  affairs  of  individu- 
als, the  institution  becomes  one  of  iniquity  and  detriment 
to  the  community.  A  good  "  paper,"  in  its  merits,  should 
be  equaled  by  its  patronage,  being  for  undoubted  good; 
engaged  in  the  most  public  manner  in  the  discussion  of 
persons  and  their  interests,  what  redress  is  adequate  for  a 
wrong,  or  a  colorable  misrepresentation  from  a  newspaper  ? 

But  what  a  beautiful  grand  factor,  within  its  legitimate 
objects,  in  the  conduct  of  enlightened  men!  What  special 
schooling  could  be  too  great  for  its  votaries,  schooled 
though  they  are  largely  in  practical  affairs  and  knowledge 


A  CALM  LIFE.  207 

of  life.  But  if  a  special  examination  for  fitness  in  any 
calling  or  so-called  profession  is  legally  advisable,  then 
what  could  not  be  attributed  to  this,  the  noblest  of  all  ? 
No  less  an  adeptness  is  required  for  the  presentation  and 
obtention  of  the  matter,  than  the  judicious  and  truthful 
exposition  and  discussion  of  it. 

God  bless  Hermes,  or  the  bearer  of  tidings  ! 

A  crafty  lawyer  even  would  succumb  to  a  righteous 
newspaper ;  the  public's  "  voice,"  when  uttered  by  a  truth- 
ful, eloquent  mouthpiece,  reliable  for  its  known  source  and 
resource,  is  unequivocal  and  certain ;  you  can  only  pervert 
the  people  by  ignorance  in  the  first  instance.  The  avenue 
of  our  enterprises !  The  throbs  of  the  community's  heart 
are  within  its  grasp. 

We  rigged  up  a  primitive  press,  and  henceforth  the 
statements  and  collections  of  recounted  facts  and  occur- 
rences were  preserved  in  printed  and  bound  form,  and 
copies  thereof  distributed  for  leisure  perusal  among  the 
individuals. 

My  first  connected  effort  was  the  detailed  narration  of 
our  voyage  and  discoveries,  and  other  incidental  transac- 
tions and  impressions  connected  therewith,  and  analogous 
dissolution  of  illusions. 

Every  Friday  evening  found  a  "newsy"  little  sheet, 
embellished  by  the  thoughts  of  our  cultivated,  laborious 
thinkers  and  writers,  which  presented  all  the  happenings 
of  the  week  of  a  general  consequence,  and  the  speculations 
and  discussions  of  the  matters  and  affairs  before  us. 
A  permanent  chronicle,  which,  if  there  had  been  any 
discreditable  reflection  on  anyone,  would  have  constituted 
so  much  disparaging  history  for  such  individual,  and,  col- 
lectively, of  all  the  individuals,  for  the  community — thus, 
what  an  essential  for  truth,  as  history  above  all  should  be 
authentic.     Such  annals  are  intimate  with  the  health  and 


208  THE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

prospects  of  the  people  —  constitute  and  shape  them  for 
their  history.  Herein  lies  the  sound  that  gives  the  tone, 
or  a  wide-spread  dissonance  will  cause  an  overwhelming 
clangor.  Food  for  reflection  creates  the  action  of  feasible 
reform.  There  is  no  improvement  save  reform  or  liberal- 
ization. 

The  school-master  was  my  efficient  and  enthusiastic 
collaborateur,  and  contributed  many  instructive,  philo- 
sophical disquisitions,  that  had  all  the  elements  of  unfail- 
ing progress. 

The  community  was  fast  assuming  a  very  different 
aspect  of  activity,  and  numerous  investigations  and  experi- 
ments that  were  now  being  entered  into  gave  thoughtful- 
ness  to  the  enthusiastic  countenances.  In  ignorance  there 
is  no  happiness ;  but  when  the  thoughts  and  sights  seek 
and  obtain  a  true  glimpse  into  the  higher  realms,  then  the 
reflected  light  is  at  once  apparent  in  the  glow  of  the 
thereby  measured  delight.  Our  whole  disposition  is  to 
popular  government  by  popular  intelligence;  and  that 
carries  with  it  virtue,  companionship  and  mutual  useful- 
ness. Here  it  was  principally  a  maintenance  of  such  and 
the  advantages  of  such  an  excellent  foundation ;  beyond, 
the  inculcation  thereof.  We  knew  its  value;  faith 
upheld  it,  undoubtedly. 

All  kinds  of  mechanical  devices  were  essayed,  at  first 
with  varying  success,  then  with  the  inevitable  result  of 
development  due  to  persistence  and  the  suggestions  and 
polish  arising  out  of  and  from  continued  contact. 

And  this  factory  and  that  concern,  together  with  the 
various  productive  interests  for  material  in  their  manipu- 
lation, were  making  the  hum  of  industry  loud  and  almost 
unbroken ;  and  true  delight  hailed  each  new  achievement, 
as  each  novel  article  was  employed  with  manifest  pride. 
Labor  is  the  principle  of  achievement  and  success  of  life. 


A  CALM  LIFE.  209 

Nor  were  the  results  eventually  in  any  regard  mean,  but, 
from  the  books  and  my  personal  knowledge,  besides  the 
experience  of  our  visitors,  combined  with  the  ever  impor- 
tant personal  genius  of  individuals,  presented  an  excellent 
array  adequate  to  our  rather  limited  demands.  We  actu- 
ally soon  reveled  in  good  living  and  in  enjoyments,  and  had 
no  reproaches  to  make  ourselves  therefor — the  addition  of 
our  acquaintance  with  our  new  neighbors  had  wonderfully 
stimulated  our  joys  and  activity  —  at  less  cost  to  all  of 
us  because  we  did  not  curtail  use,  but,  guided  intelligence 
to  general  use,  which  left  no  time  or  room  for  abuse. 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  following  summer  another 
cruise,  or  rather  a  repeated  visit  to  our  friends  was 
decided  upon.  All  our  visitors,  excepting  the  merchant 
and  his  wife  (his  daughters,  however,  were  going  to  visit 
their  old  home)  were  going  on  the  voyage,  but  intended  to 
return;  the  artisans  with  their  families,  besides  the  three 
attentive  young  men,  were  also  to  go,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bertram,  the  former  to  resume  his  charge  of  the  helm, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason,  and  several  of  the  young  folks 
of  both  sexes,  and  the  school-master,  the  latter  as  the  his- 
torian and  chronicler  of  the  trip.  Mr.  Mason  stepped  into 
the  direction,  young  Betram  resumed  his  post  at  the 
engine,  and  the  others  were  necessarily  distributed,  such 
"veterans"  only  being  retained  as  were  requisite.  We 
enabled  as  many  as  possible  of  those  who  remained  behind 
before  to  participate  for  their  edification.  I  assumed 
whatever  charge  there  might  be  at  home.  The  hold  of 
the  vessel  was  laden  with  the  handicraft  and  produce  of 
our  last  year  and  winter's  productions  and  such  evidences 
of  our  genius  as  might  prove  useful  to  our  friends,  as  gifts 
to  them. 

We  expected  quite  a  colony  to  return  with  our 
vessel,  and,  to  that  end,  had  adopted  suitable  unanimous 


210  THE   TROUBLE    OF   LIVING   ALONE. 

resolutions  of  invitation,  couched  in  the  most  friendly- 
terms.  Our  resources  needed  population  for  their  devel- 
opment, and,  too,  we  felt  they  could  develop  a  popula- 
tion for  their  happiness  and  health  here.  The  evening 
before  witnessed  a  banquet,  with  song  and  speeches  and 
happy  joyous  moods;  and  the  morrow  an  early,  glorious 
departure. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


HIS    LAST    LECTURE. 


A  young,  bright,  able  assistant  attended  to  the  school- 
ing of  the  children,  with  great  pride  in  his  grand  work 
and  respectful  attention  from  them. 

I  went  on  with  my  accustomed  work  of  chronicling 
events,  and  in  my  best  style  of  continuing  the  current  his- 
tory, which,  besides  being  condensed  in  the  weekly  news- 
paper reports,  was  embodied  in  a  printed  publication,  or  a 
cyclopedia  of  history,  as  it  progressed  and  transpired.  I 
thus  also  supplied  the  school-master's  vacancy,  m  his 
functions  as  regular  chronicler.  Literature  was  cultivated 
in  all  its  fine  elevating  arts  here,  now,  besides,  at  which  I 
attempted  to  assist. 

The  reader  can  already  mentally  picture  the  changes 
wrought  in  affairs  since  my  advent,  embraced  in  my  stay 
already  of  five  years,  but  quite  different  ones  from  those 
spent  previously  alone.  Will  anyone  doubt  that  the 
advantages  should  be  attributed  to  my  present  stay  over 
the  previous  solitude  ?  "  Ages "  of  time  were  not  now 
constituted  by  wasting  monotony !  I  began  to  delineate 
a  plan  for  a  city;  but  as  a  first  proposition,  not  such  a 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  211 

compact  mass  of  structures  and  habitations  as  I  was 
accustomed  to  in  the  olden  times;  the  necessity  of  such 
an  arrangement  was  not  in  existence  now,  and  would  not 
be ;  and  the  question  of  transportation,  as  well  as  commu- 
nication was  now  more  happily  solved,  with  no  discourage- 
ment for  the  future. 

.  That  I  at  least  would  be  forever  tainted  with  old  ideas, 
might  be  expected  from  early  training;  I  was  still  at  best 
a  "connecting  link,"  that  cannot  be  effectually  eradicated; 
but   I   hoped   to   lay   sufficient   foundation    for   whatever 
progress  might  be  possible  in  another,  I  believed,  higher 
way.     Thus  my  city,  while  not  a  marvel  or  a  "heavenly" 
place,  should  at  least  embrace  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments for  convenience  and  happiness  and  health  with  the 
local   ingenuities    to   be   there   suggested   respectively   in 
addition.     That  the  few  "vipers"  and   "parasites"  who 
constantly  infest  our  humanity,  are  to  be  regarded  as  an 
expected  detriment,  if  not  met  by  precaution,  must,  unfor- 
tunately, always  be    taken    cognizance   of;    nor   do   they 
necessarily  appear  in  rags,  and  are  so  easily  distinguishable. 
In   the   first   place,    the    residences    were   arranged    in 
spacious  groups  on  high  grounds,  and  extended  over  con- 
tinuing, not  circumscribed  space  to  space,  each  in  garden 
or  park  of  nature  and  art's  embellishments  — for  mental 
and  physical  discipline,  at  least;  then,  therewith,  the  con- 
nections of  all  sorts  of  the  devices  of  communication  and 
transportation. 

The  places  of  the  heavy  industries  were  more  assigned 
to  the  low  lying  grounds,  with  spacious  and  airy  surround- 
ings, and  adjacent,  as  nearly  as  possible,  and  widely  dis- 
tributed to  their  several  points  of  respective  advantages. 
I  also  made  a  skeleton  suggestion,  by  which  in  due  regula- 
tion these  conditions  of  affairs  should  be  preserved,  and,  in 
the  case   of  necessary  change,   how  the  same  should 'be 


212  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

adjusted.  At  the  beginning  such  regulations  are  practical 
and  easily  understood  and  observed  thereafter. 

Hence,  in  plan,  every  conducement  to  facility  and 
pleasurable  occupation  were  observed,  congruous  to  the 
locality,  its  topography  and  opportunities. 

The  spreading  out  had  further  practical  purposes  for  the 
territory,  making  no  particular  spot  unnaturally  valuable, 
but  giving  everyone  a  choice,  with  no  marked  superior 
advantages  in  that  regard ;  still  intimate  friends  and 
relatives  could  commune  together,  but  no  other  combina- 
tion of  interests  found  encouragement  from  me,  esteeming, 
as  I  do,  the  universal  brotherhood  of  all  well-intentioned 
mankind.  Even  the  family  connection  should  be  based 
solely  upon  its  natural  affections  and  seek  no  sordid 
interest  beyond  that. 

In  my  opinion  people  err  more  from  ignorance  than 
deliberate  intention;  they  learn  a  lesson  well  as  is  evi- 
denced by  the  manifest  difficulty  of  changing  old  ways. 
So  that  the  present  mode  and  idea  of  building  and  main- 
taining cities  in  their  compact  form  are  the  institutions  of 
times  when  such  order  was  for  mutual  protection,  and  the 
value  of  land  not  in  scarcity  but  in  the  labor  of  covering 
it.  Now,  although  the  reasons  have  long  since  been  over- 
come or  abolished,  see  how  reasonable  Ave  are ;  we  perpet- 
uate all  the  inconveniences  —  from  force  of  habit  and 
inculcation.  Hereby  is  manifested  the  potency  of  proper 
inculcation  and  habits  of  thought;  advantageous  changes 
must  occur,  from  time  to  time,  and  as  a  tribute  to  human- 
ity, it  must  be  said  they  keep  their  precepts  well  —  only, 
too  long. 

Beautiful  villas  would  string  far  out  into  the  country 
and  connect,  blend  the  farming  lands,  leaving  no  ridicu- 
lous distinctions  to  create  caste  or  conditions  even  between 
communities. 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  213 

In  vocation  there  is  no  practical  or  honorable  difference ; 
labor  is  alike  and  dependent  on  the  same  laws.  All  are 
duties  and  callings  and  only  one  would  I  term  a  pro- 
fession— the  practice  of  law. 

A  plain  necessity  must  be  regarded  until  it  can  be 
removed;  then,  at  least,  the  cause  should  be  ridiculed 
into  intolerance. 

The  industrial  arrangement,  or  the  government,  receives 
the  next  attention. 

To  erect  these  abodes  and  habitations,  and  to  adduce 
and  maintain  the  means  of  access  and  communication,  as 
well  as  to  devise  further  agencies  and  improvements, 
owing  to  ever-recurring  conditions,  industry  must  be 
required,  and  that,  too,  in  diverse  form  and  variously  dis- 
tributed. And  this  is  based  on  and  maintained  by  indi- 
vidual intelligence!  The  individual  concerns,  then  the 
common  address,  and  finally  the  support  of  those 
necessarily  employed  to  perform  what  can  only  be  done  by 
part,  while  the  rest  supply  the  means  of  support. 

The  original  family  relation  explains  these  themes  and 
their  mutual  respect  and  importance. 

First,  how  to  be  agreeable  to  the  minds  of  all;  second, 
to  satisfy  them  with  the  enforced  arrangements ;  and  third, 
in  what  respect  to  limit  or  enlarge  on  the  provinces  of  some. 

We  must  presume  upon  the  proposition,  that  where  you 
add  you  must,  first,  take  away  somewhere ;  this  must  be 
followed  by  the  statement,  that  when  you  take  away  it 
should  be,  only,  from  surplus  and  added  to  dearth  — 
unless  in  times  of  general  calamity,  which  naturally  are 
very  infrequent.  The  balance  must  be  preserved  to  main- 
tain equilibrium  and  contentment. 

Man  may  be  on  the  pinnacle  of  vision, 
Thence  to  survey  the  glory  far  and  near, 


214  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Or  earthly  doom,  distress,  or  happiness. 
If,  thereupon,  he  grovels  in  their  midst, 
These  earthly  worms  of  pilgrimage  will  hold 
Him  to  their  sight  of  limited,  small  range. 
Within  their  dust  his  dull  sight  is  not  strange. 

Everything  sounds  well  done  in  whole  mission,  even 
monotonous  thump  or  rumble,  which,  however,  may  be 
shaded.  Sound  comes  first,  declaration  next,  then  perusal. 
The  natural  tendency  of  man  is  to  music,  speech  and  art, 
literature,  the  last  culminating  his  culture  as  the  first 
arouses  his  elevating  impulses  to  find  full  development 
in  their  full,  deliberate,  reflective  discussion  and  impres- 
sion. Literature  is  their  repeated  dwelling  in  all  elegance 
and  repeated  partaking.  Some  day  the  spiritual  devel- 
opment will  take  place  with  the  many  other  invisible, 
potent  factors,  in  force  but  now  repelled  by  the  penetrable 
wall  of  misty  gloom.  Only  the  weak  and  doubtful  are 
affrighted  hereby ;  but  properly  illumined  there  will  be  a 
shadowy  fleeing  of  this  unstable  thing  of  its  own  advanc- 
ing object. 

That  a  wise  man,  a  good  one  has  undue  or  unbalanced 
power,  all  the  bankruptcies  attendant  upon  one  absorbing 
creditor,  requires  a  readjustment  of  the  practical  fact.  In 
an  incipient  plan  collective  power  must  be  tolerated  for 
universal  good.  We  are  naturally  the  best  organization  of 
individuals;  yet  we  contrive  individual  organizations  to 
debar  the  weak,  sick,  decrepit,  the  useless  to  those  who 
shame  the  appeal  to  humane,  good  nature  lingering  in 
every  constitution  despite  any  vicissitude.  The  brotherly 
love  the  world  has  learned  to  vaunt  is  narrowed  down  to 
worse  than  a  selfish  policy — even  a  grasping  one.  All 
mere  associations  tie  knots  in  the  universe. 

The  unobstructed  universe  is  required  to  facilitate  its 
constituents.     If  a  neighbor  is  clearly  shown  to  be  self- 


BIS  LAST  LECTURE.  215 

sacrificing  then  every  obstacle  shonld  be  zealously  removed 
for  such  a  noble  cause  — that  is,  your  co-operation  should 
develop  for  the  general  benefit.  No  organization  is  nec- 
essary except  to  embrace  all.  To  what  extent  the  dif- 
ferences can  be  adjusted  remains  to  the  power  of  the 
All-governing ;  we  can  only  approach  it  by  agreement  and 
that  by  education.  We  unitedly  are  not  enough  in  the 
world  to  adduce  all  our  benefits  therein,  but  must  by 
understanding  even  have  a  higher  Faith  and  these  in 
all  events  involve  our  collective  force.  Man  is  his  own 
beauty. 

But  in  what  plight  are  we  —  our  strengths,  efforts  and 
industries  are  decimated  and  worse ;  piles  are  made  out  of 
reach,  over-production  in  the  hollow  calamity  exists  by  the 
depths  of  despair. 

Where  the  pleasures  of  enlightened  ingenuity  and  dis- 
tribntion,  the  fruits  of  love,  have  borne  out  the  enjoyment 
of  the  promise,  not  surfeited  by  a  few  moments'  handi- 
work, the  relish  lies  in  further  desert.  "  Everything  has 
its  enemy,"  except  man,  when  he  becomes  his  own  to 
make  up  the  seeming  natural  law. 

Well,  I  spent  all  my  spare  time  in  deciphering  these 
details  and  placing  the  results  on  record  in  outlined  draw- 
ings and  markings.  I  embodied  the  few  simple  creeds  of 
government.  My  most  elegant  structure,  there  where  all 
hearts  and  minds  and  hands  and  geniuses  could  unite  in 
one  grand  cause  —  no  preacher  was  necessary  but  merely 
as  the  servant  of  God,  and  man — no  individual  ele- 
gance—  was  the  edifice  to  knowledge,  the  Temple,  where 
God  was  devoted  to  with  His  manifestations  of  Mercy  for 
Faith.  Oh,  that  truth,  ever,  makes  the  ignorant  more 
ignorant,  and — but,  light  makes  the  remaining  gloom 
darker ! 

Now    my   meaning   may   appear   deceptive.     It   is   the 


216  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

knowledge  of  the  suppression  of  evil,  that  I  have  reference 
to  —  that  makes  the  room  for  and  brings  the  enlightment 
of  good  —  which  is  as  clearly  a  result  of  Mercy,  as  that 
those  tall  structures  do  not  topple  onto  us  beneath,  as  long 
as  held  by  the  law  of  stability ;  but,  as  does  occur,  when 
that  law  no  longer  is  manifest  or  controls,  then  the  fatal 
denouement  follows. 

The  American  institutions,  in  their  youthful  vigor  and 
healthy  birth  and  rearing  approach  this  principle. 

Let  that  be  the  palace  of  the  World,  as  it  is  the  Temple 
of  God,  where  is  the  Public  School  of  information  and 
worship,  the  establishment  of  equality,  the  elevation  of 
united  energy,  and  the  common  dissolution  of  foisted 
mysteries,  which  will  then  also  destroy  most  of  the  miser- 
ies —  no  longer  the  nrysteriously  preserved  walls  for  their 
not-to-be-understood  contents,  and  protections  where  there 
is  no  danger  to  righteousness,  but  all  is  unrestrainedly 
imparted  —  where  evil,  in  all  its  forms,  is  shown  by  shun- 
ning it ;  where  the  humble  Grace  of  personal  significance, 
for  universal  application,  is  inspired,  as  it  then  will  be. 

One  year,  with  its  seasons  of  storm  and  sunshine,  blight, 
dearth,  regeneration  and  recurring  harvest  (I  felt  as 
though  I  were  nearing  my  ripening-time)  had  passed  over 
the  resting-place  of  my  unforgotten  love;  and  I  dedicated 
the  productions  of  my  inspirations  to  pure  love,  at  its 
place  of  abidance. 

All,  harvest,  thou  prepar'st  the  annual  feast — 
Oh,  man,  but  thou  enslav'st  thy  fellow-man!  — 
Thyself  thy  slave ! 

The  ensuing  Fall  brought  our  ship  "  returned,"  with  a 
large  cargo  of  substantial  well-wishes,  and  airy  products  of 
the  wealth  of  man,  in  raiment  and  provisions  and  articles 
of  vert  it. 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  217 

All  our  folks  returned,  save  young  Samuel  Mason,  who 
had  there  married  one  of  the  young  ladies  of  that  locality, 
the  one  referred  to  as  the  sister  of  the  "  bride ; "  Mason 
was  an  intelligent,  quick-witted,  excellent  fellow,  and  we 
had  selected  him  to  represent  us  there,  residently,  as  a 
sort  of  minister  or  consul  in  our  behalf,  and,  as  he  was 
wonderfully  well  adapted,  to  further  study  those  people 
as  well  as  to  disclose  to  them  our  advantages  and  disad- 
vantages, in  order  that  we  both  by  complete  knowledge  of 
each  other  might  prove  of  service,  mutually ;  besides,  his 
contemplated  and,  as  stated,  then  consummated  marital 
alliance  made  residence  not  so  undesirable,  gaining  for 
him  the  greatest  amount  of  influence  and  confidence  there 
possible  under  the  circumstances,  and  to  us  such  esteem 
and  advantage,  by  the  practical  demonstration  of  our 
good  faith. 

Their  voyage  had  been  tempestuous,  but  in  nowise  dis- 
astrous. The  old  poet,  they  said,  regretted  that  I  did  not 
return,  though,  he  added,  he  had  felt  such  an  admonition, 
and  felt  not  a  little  grieved  that  he  should  thus  never 
again  behold  me  here,  as  he  expressed  himself.  Had  he 
the  insight  of  prophecy  ?     This  he  transmitted  to  me : 

"Tempests  fly  with  raging  toils, 
Sorrows  steep  themselves  in  foils; 
Oft  the  heart  is  sad  and  blast  — 
Dominance  cannot  e'er  last ! 
Though  you  may  esteem  to  trouble, 
Ignorance  and  shift  are  double. 
Though  you  may  not  ken  the  deeds, 
Sigh  and  pray  for  all  your  needs 
And  your  soul  will  never  tremble  — 
If  you  do  not  e'er  dissemble. 
Ah,  my  friend,  what  griefs  wear  boots, 
Traveling  do  they  take  roots? 
Or  when  steaming  have  they  boats  ? 


218  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Nay,  and  sink,  each  always  gloats. 

Let  me  say,  all  friends  have  inklings 

Through  reft  space  of  sorrows'  sprinklings, 

Coursed  by  twinge  to  hearts'  fond  beats, 

Passed  by  spirits'  listing  heats. 

When  you  wish  to  fly  a  sore, 

Open  every  other  pore — 

Steep  contagion  in  a  pest ; 

Then  survive  and  fit  the  best. 

'Tis  no  gladness  makes  my  own; 

Neither  joy,  at  which  I  frown, 

For  I  hate  distressed  concern, 

Neither  will  I  inwards  bvrn. 

But  if  ever  you  should  prate, 

Leaving  out  sore  cause  and  hate, 

I'd  confound  you  with  a  stone, 

Better  than  your  flesh  and  bone.  — 

Now,  my  friend,  hear  one  last  sigh: 

Shall  we  meet  hence,  by  and  by  ? 

Shall  we  travel  where  the  souls 

Purge  their  ever  pungent  roles, 

Where  the  heart-aches  cease  to  be  — 

And  the  blind  can  clearly  see  ? 

Yes,  yes,  there  we  shall  not  sever, 

There  our  souls  will  dwell,  forever, 

There  no  sadness  will  enshroud  us, 

Never  turmoil  be  about  us ; 

Hence,  hence,  far  removed  from  hell, 

Thither,  thither  — there  we'll  dwell!" 

Ah!  that  man  had  divined  my  sorrow,  had  read  my 
fate !  The  seeming  chasm,  space  itself  is  bridged  by  the 
impulses,  knowledge  of  the  hearts  and  spirits. 

I  could  imagine  that  weird  attitude,  in  which, 
with  his  strangely  sounding  voice,  solemnly  assumed,  he 
would  have  repeated  these  lines,  and  added  to  them  their 
worth,  and  in  them  I  recognized  an  intended  prophetic 
forecast,  perhaps  aided  by  my  own  spiritual  admonitions, 
which  may  have  communicated  some  intelligence  to  him 


HIS  LAST  LECTUBE.  219 

also  of  rny  speedy  future  dissolution  —  but  happy  spiritual 
realization.  A  large  colony  accompanied  this  return  — 
splendid  enthusiastic  people. 

Every  comfort  which  we  possessed  was  soon  at  their 
command  (how  we  love  to  render  up  even  our  last  posses- 
sion to  those  who  we  know  properly  appreciate  the  service) 
and  scarcely  ten  days  had  elapsed,  before  these  personages, 
so  industrious,  willing  and  thrifty,  were  assigned,  upon 
their  requests,  or  had  chosen  their  various  vocations  and 
were  busily,  contentedly  engaged. 

Our  colony  was  still  one  large,  loving,  lovable  family  — 
and  remains  so  until  vice  creeps  in;  and  why  should  it 
not  be  thus  of  the  whole  world  ?  Whose  fault  is  it  ?  Let 
those  answer,  who  can  distinguish.     This  is  science. 

Time  swept  by,  and  so  it  must  have  been  doing  all 
on  earth;  an  annual  voyage  was  made  every  summer  to 
our  neighbors,  but  I  have  not  yet  again  participated — 
time  seems  so  short  for  me ;  my  health  is  broken  a  little, 
but  the  silent  vigor  of  spirit  reigns  the.  same,  though 
admonishing  me  to  proceed  at  once  —  at  once  with  my 
labors. 

It  had  been  suggested,  that  I  deliver,  orally,  before  the 
assemblage  here,  which  had  considerably  augmented  with 
this  influx  of  "immigrants,"  a  lecture  upon  the  social  cat- 
aclysm, and  that,  thereupon,  the  same  should  be  published 
and  transmitted  to  our  friends.  The  world,  now,  is  our 
friends  ! 

The  subject  being  "Caste  and  Castaways,"  and  embrac- 
ing the  reflections  and  commentary  history  on  the  social 
conditions,  into  the  sea  of  which  we  were  about  embark- 
ing, or  had  entered — whether  a  calm  or  a  turbulent  one 
would  be  of  vital  interest  to  consider  at  the  outset  for 
proper  steering  —  I,  as  carefully  as  I  could,  prepared  and 
delivered  the  following : 


220  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

"God  is  our  greatest  servant,  therefore  absolute  Ruler. 
'A  so-called  ruler  should  be  the  best  of  servants,'  which 
is  true  not  only  theoretically  but  practically.  His  ele- 
ments of  distinction  by  no  means  remove  him  from,  but 
rather  add  zest  to  his  immediate,  direct  contact  with  his 
brethren. 

"That  this  requirement  is  so  sadly  overlooked  in  those 
who  are  selected,  and  entrusted  with  the  administration  of 
our  affairs,  accounts  for  many  of  our  national  troubles. 
From  this  fountain-head  of  oppression  emanates  the  desire 
for  pernicious  inquiry  into  the  minutest  details  and  the 
most  trivial  of  private  affairs.  What,  for  a  time,  success- 
fully becomes  the  object  of  a  course  of  conduct,  soon 
has  assumed  the  features  of  habit;  and,  where  ignorance 
knows  no  other  custom,  having  experienced  no  other  con- 
tact, the  pursuits  are  speedily  under  such  circumstances  a 
law  unto  themselves,  the  ways  of  common  practice. 

"With  this  introductory  premise  we  recognize  the  funda- 
mental principle  of  'caste;'  and,  incidentally,  resulted 
'castaways.' 

"A  few  intriguers,  wielding  with  and  through  the  igno- 
rance of  persons,  who  gladly  unthinkingly  hail  such  a 
leadership,  a  power  of  physical  might,  coerce  the  multi- 
tude. Then,  thoroughly  wrapt  in  their  selfishness,  and 
the  masses  warped  into  the  desired  intimidation  and  in- 
creasing ignorance  the  wheels,  thereby,  of  tyranny  are  put 
in  motion. 

"First,  a  subversion  of  right  through  intrigue,  then  an 
ignorance  or  confusion  of  what  is  right,  lastly  a  settled 
presumption,  foisting  slavery  upon  all  those  who  cannot 
protect  themselves  —  which,  finally,  resolves  itself  into  but 
the  very  few,  until  all  cause  an  upheaval.  This,  practi- 
cally, embodies  the  results  of  perverse  society. 

"After  we  have  cautiously  threaded  all  the  mazes  of 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  221 

life,  the  fortunes  of  our  children,  or  their  'station'  in 
'  society,'  depend  upon  our  success  in  having  achieved  for 
them  a  distinction  in  the  power  of  wealth,  or  the  influence 
of  name  or  connections,  which  all  others  are  bound  to  rec- 
ognize through  fear,  rather,  than  respect. 

"Their  maintenances  are,  hence,  their  individual  con- 
cerns. Another  child  begins  under  the  circumstances  of 
unfortunate  surroundings,  and  the  situation  is  reversed  —  it 
is  considered  profitable,  that  this  one  should  be  virtually  a 
slave.  These  are  the  rough  outlines  of  an  unpleasant 
exterior. 

"After  a  while,  these  lines  jostle  each  other,  as  an 
upheaval  takes  place,  and  settle  themselves  back  upon  a 
somewhat  altered  plane;  but  the  principles  remain  the 
same. 

"Now,  this  is  really  unnecessary,  and  conduces  to  the 
good  of  no  one,  not  even  that  of  the  favored  classes  ;  they 
would  be  happier,  if  everyone  they  met  could  be  regarded 
by  them  as  an  equal,  and  not  an  inferior;  for,  to  say  the 
least,  they  would  not  have  to  dread  on  the  other  hand  their 
'superiors,'  as,  with  our  cherished  rule  of  <ups'  and 
'downs,'  no  one  is  without  his  or  her  superior.  Thus,  we 
are  all  slaves,  and  terrified !  * 

"'If  to  the  desire  for  riotous  living,  with  individual  indo- 
lence, is  to  be  attributed,  as  it  may,  this  rise  of  divided 
power  and  slavery,  then,  the  conditions  should  be  traced  to 
their  source,  mistaking  slavery  for  real  service  to  them- 
selves. 

"  My  dear  brethren,  it  is  awfully  true  that  our  lamenta- 
tions are  more  the  result  of  disappointed  expectations, 
than  realization  of  the  iniquity  of  the  principle  of  prece- 

*"Gleich  und  Gleich  gesellt  sich  gem;  "  even  the  tendency,  where 
development  has  not  yet  ensued,  of  similarity  and  elevation,  in  the 
mate  to  any  person,  or  meet  in  any  community,  is  zest  and  within  the 
outward  measure  of  happiness. 


222  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

dence,  and  no  more  could  be  expected  from  us,  as  enlight- 
ened rulers,  than  industrious  subjects. 

"But  the  conditions  are  sad  and  mar  an  otherwise  pleas- 
ant world,  in  the  main ;  the  natural  evils  here  could  be 
cheerfully  borne,  as  all  ought  to  be,  anyway,  with  every 
zealous  effort  to  remove  them,  were  they  not  burdened 
additionally  by  human  ingenuity  in  perversity.  That  real 
powerful  evil  spirits  are  forever  among  us,  cannot  escape 
our  notice,  nor  that  they  are  something  over  and  beyond 
our  control,  until  we  thoroughly  shield  ourselves  in  humil- 
ity with  the  saving  and  protecting  grace  of  merciful  inter- 
vention in  our  behalfs,  by  and  through  good  spirits.  This 
is,  comprehensively,  a  scientifical,  philosophical  disclosure 
of  the  human  system. 

"The  castes  are  precisely  what  we  esteem  them,  a  man's 
employment  and  another's  service.  The  answer  to  this 
instigation  gives  its  unmistakable  evidence.  If  all  acts 
are  voluntarily  rendered,  likewise  so  endured,  there  is  no 
cause  for  complaint,  provided  the  restriction  to  personal 
liberty  is  not  to  these  several  avocations.  In  various 
capacities,  each  should  be  profitable  for  the  whole,  other- 
wise there  is  an  irredeemable  waste;  and  to  make  the 
services  endure  to  mutual  advantage  they  should  be  inter- 
changeable, as  they  practically  are.  Where  success  is 
achieved  in  deceit,  and  not  so  designated  and  hence  mis- 
leads by  the  false  name,  we  may  regard  the  appellation  to 
serve  the  thing  to  destruction. 

"Now,  we  come  to  the  prime  and  fundamental  feature  of 
'caste  and  castaway/  and  that  is  ignorance. 

"  Fie  upon  institutions,  which  uphold  the  latter,  and  arro- 
gate to  themselves  that  right  —  in  anything! 

"  Wherever  tyranny  has  prevailed,  and  its  preparation 
requires  that  step,  there  will  be  found  a  corresponding 
ignorance ;  not  even  flattery  can  always  nor  bribery,  ever, 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  223 

assuage  the  wrongs  against  the  knowing;  and  wherever 
mere  dominance  was  sedulously  aspired  to  and  selfishly 
cherished,  ignorance  was  fostered  and  maintained  among 
the  subjects;  the  devil's  greatest  wand  is  that  wherewith 
he  shrewdly  stirs  the  ignorant  slothful  mass,  but  tenderly, 
that  it  may  not  awaken  beyond  his  immediate  use. 

"  Whether  so-called  religious  rites  or  of  statecraft,  the 
gloom  of  uncertain,  unenlightened  designations  of  their 
ministrations  by  the  controlling  left  the  masses  in  over- 
whelming and  conducted  misery.  The  more  resplendent 
in  outward  manifestations,  therewith,  hence  the  gaudiness 
in  practice  opposed  to  the  proper  simplicity  of  their  teach- 
ings, the  less  could  the  uncomprehending  unfortunates  and 
dupes,  who  were  furnishing  their  very  marrows  and  blood 
for  these  revelries  for  a  sad  pageant  of  a  glossy  drill  of 
their  cruel  deceptions,  ever  aspire  beyond  a  dazzling 
superstition  and  false  admiration.  But  when  the  knowl- 
edge of  things,  inevitable  in  such  a  pernicious  course,  and 
events  dawned  upon  them,  they  burst  the  encircling 
manacles  of  slavery.  Humble  instruments  have  led  these 
forces,  galled  by  the  emphasis  of  suffering  themselves, 
the  charge  of  the  fearful  union  of  such  powers.  The 
outcries  of  these  sufferers  are  the  piercing  poignancy  of 
truth,  that  effectively  searches  this  earth.  Knowledge 
and  light  are  synonymous,  they  dispel  ignorance  and 
gloom. 

"  And  ignorance  and  gloom  go  hand  in  hand.  The  happy 
light  of  joy  cannot  shine  where  half  the  world  is  kept  in 
ignorance  by  the  machinations  of  the  other. 

"No  prevailing  different  degrees  of  society  will  exist  in  a 
friendly  community  hence  the  enemy  need  not  be  far 
sought  for — and  the  one  which  is  within  striking  distance 
is  the  one  to  be  feared,  despite  any  fervent  protestations, 
that  the  removed,   far  in  the  rear,  absent  cause  is   the 


224  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

incentive  to  the  danger.  While  history  cannot  justify  its 
atrocities,  misdeeds  cannot  rest  their  justifications  on  it. 

"Where  nobility  or  ruling  classes  by  birth  are  recog- 
nized, or  the  power  by  similar  means  is  in  countries  which 
do  not  vigilantly  guard  against  this  insidious  influence, 
the  unwholesome  distinctions  are  entailed  and  embodied 
which  seek  maintenance  for  their  own  interests  and 
embrace  the  most  pernicious  evil.  As  a  potent  evidence 
of  the  right  of  universal  equality  among  men,  the  unre- 
strained respect  for  the  practical  demonstration  of  popu- 
lar institutions  in  my  dear  old  country,  the  United  States, 
even  by  scions  in  the  inimical  establishments,  may  itself 
serve  as  a  criterion.  Nobilities  esteem  their  environments 
and  inflict  slavery  and  serfdom  on  others.  Their  aversion 
to  American  institutions  by  those  who  oppose  them  is 
written  on  the  pages  of  antecedent  history.  Either  they 
were  tyrannical  oppressors  with  their  abettors,  or  viciously 
disregarded  all  law  and  order  of  right,  and  destroyed  all 
human  felicity. 

"Man  in  all  conditions  loves  to  progress  —  he  dislikes 
even  to  refrain  from  teaching  a  like  condition  in  Heaven. 
But  he  too  often  deludes  himself  in  the  fact. 

"  Unfortunately  he  begins  with  that  and  ends  with 
that,  the  same,  merely  his  mystery.  Hence  any  igno- 
rance, which,  sometimes  allows  over-handed  conditions  to  be 
fostered  and  does  not  embrace  even  their  enlightened 
extensions  for  amelioration  from  the  wielders  of  this  over- 
weening power,  fortifies  itself  in  grief  and  embodies  the 
insatiable  yet  uncomfortable  ill,  from  all  kinds  of  excesses, 
which  its  powers  allowed  it  in  abuse.  A  gourmand  which 
will  even  devour  itself  in  its  blind,  passionate  greed. 
This  disease  must  be  cured  and  burden  lightened  by  pro- 
gression back  to  original  purity. 

"  Now,  my  dear  brethren,  what  would  it  seem  well  for 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  225 

you  to  avoid?  In  the  first  place,  the  different  adverse 
organizations  :  For  they,  if  only  engendering  and  carrying 
on  strife  against  themselves,  eventually  draw  you  into 
their  vortex,  under  the  pretext  of  your  eventual  good, 
which  they  pretend  to  hazard  in  your  favor  and  be  con- 
cerned about.  And  true,  every  result  is  embraced  in  your 
eventuality  and  what  earthly  cause  must  not  envelop  you  ? 
"The  remotest  points  of  the  earth  must  be  drawn  to  your 
interests  !  You  cannot  escape  any  burden,  that  may  reach 
you,  and,  hence,  no  enjoyment  can  be,  legitimately,  denied 
you,  if  you  conduct  yourself  properly  with  regard  to  the - 
burdens. 

"  The  elements  of  discords  exist  in  diverse  interests :  As 
long  as  the  theory  and  practice  prevail,  to  give  as  little  as 
will  be  received  for  as  much  as  can  be  obtained,  instead  of 
delivering  as  much  as  can  be  taken  for  the  least  requisi- 
tion, the  sole  interest  of  individuals  will  be  in  grasping, 
and  injuries  will  arise  from  the  struggling,  the  conduct 
being  wrong  and  unreasonable  and  causing  more  waste 
than  would  be  adequate  for  actual  consumption  by  all. 

"The  worst  fray  is  an  indiscriminate  tug  —  eventually 
the  destruction  of  the  thing  tugged  at.  An  irreparable 
loss ;  in  this  case  of  good  principle.  And  good  principle 
gives  rise  to  good  interest.  The  destruction  of  the  head, 
or  judgment,  destroys  the  sight. 

"You  cannot  disregard  principle  because  a  momentary 
bliss  seems  to  ignore  it.  It  sometimes  chances  that  a  suc- 
cess is  achieved  by  illegitimate  means ;  but  it  is  bound  to 
have  its  results  of  illegitimacy.  If  this  were  not  so,  law 
and  order  would  be  as  naught ;  but  you  cannot  logically 
express  it  in  any  other  way,  and  the  experienced  or  prac- 
tical results  demonstrate  no  other  conclusion — unless  you 
reason  or  practice  falsely,  as  against  it,  when  it  is  opposed 
to  you.    Then,  small  principles  may  be  rife  with  good  inter- 


226  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

est  rates,  and,  therefore,  oppressive,  but  cannot  carry  good, 
substantial  interest.  If  you  speculate,  that  is,  if  you  pre- 
vent the  natural,  daily  flow  of  the  currents  of  daily  life, 
you  stem  its  stream,  for  the  time  being,  and  may  cause  an 
overflow,  and  how  is  your  home  on  its  banks  to  avoid  the 
inundation,  or  if  only  your  foundations  are  Aveakened,  have 
you  not  incurred  danger  and  injury  ?  Or,  if  you  stem  the 
stream  to  withhold  the  supply,  for  a  time,  from  those  lower 
down  or  not  possessing  your  advantages,  and  you  cause  a 
desert  there,  will  it  not  consume  all  with  one,  mighty,  pre- 
cipitate rush  ?  With  destruction  on  the  way,  the  supply 
not  only  more  rapidly  exhausted  than  accumulated  but 
disastrously  so,  and  loosened  on  a  rampage  by  its  own 
force  from  the  unnatural  restraint!  You  relinquish,  but 
the  unnaturally  created  voracity  below  is  not  satiated  — 
nay,  it  is  so  hardened  that  the  major  portion  of  the  flood 
goes  over  in  waste,  but  still  leaving  a  torn  and  destroyed 
surface  by  its  very  obstinacy  to  commemorate  its  history. 
Where  this  accumulation  has  now  been  allowed  to  gather, 
let  the  escape  be  by  a  gradual,  continuous  stream  until  the 
equilibrium  has  again  set  in  and  nature  is  allowed  to 
course  upon  its  smiling  way.  Good  men  are  made  by 
happy  vocations.  When  once  the  flood  sets  in  you  are 
powerless  to  stop  it,  or  to  escape  above  from  the  stench 
arising  from  the  perished  victims  left  below  to  vanish  thus 
in  their  last  remnants  from  this  earth.  So  lonely  and 
alone  you  are  even  unable  to  dispose  of  their  sickening 
corses  and  cannot  escape  their  pestilence  —  which  is  des- 
truction from  God,  therefore  overwhelming. 

"No  powerful  house  arises  except  permitted  through  our 
vices  and  fostered  by  our  follies.  The  transaction  may 
thus  far  be  legitimate  as  respects  your  conduct.  You  are 
dissatisfied  and  your  deal  follows.  You  have  a  very  poor, 
unsteady  hand. 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  227 

"  A  little  enjoyment  bought  you  —  of  indolence.  Shift- 
ing, you  labor  and  the  other  takes  ease.  The  advan- 
tage gained,  your  single  is  trebled  by  the  other's  double, 
for  the  ratio  of  advantage  is  unequal,  bears  harder  on 
the  downward,  bounds  higher  from  below  and  fairly  on 
the  swing  increases  with  impetuosity  by  the  slightest 
maintained  incentive.  Ah,  learn  how  good  is  the  com- 
paratively stronger  element  in  its  tendency  out  of  ques- 
tion to  mere  ratio  !     Would  you  it  otherwise  ? 

"  Wealth  is  good  —  be  careful  the  ratio  is  not  against  you. 
Strength  in  any  progress  disregards  plain  ratio.  Once  it 
has  well  taken  up  its  role,  over  its  well-provisioned,  rapidly 
executed  route  it  grows  to  great  proportions,  by  its  own 
weight  packing  its  particles  and  adding  the  new  closer  to 
its  body,  until  it  really  becomes  hard  and  obdurate.  With 
comparatively  little  perceptible  addition  it  sweeps  a  com- 
prehensive surface  in  its  cumbersome  way  and  consumes 
vaster  quantities.  Its  mere  maintenance  soon  becomes  its 
sole  necessity.  It  adds  to  its  mass  continually  until  all 
are  destroyed,  either  by  being  embodied  or  crushed,  when 
its  own  destruction  inevitably  sets  in  from  want  of  further 
maintenance.  Is  the  result  to  either  its  consumed  or  itself 
different? 

"Even  an  opposing  might  to  the  one  outlined  could 
but  result  in  their  mutual  stoppage  and  decay. 

"  Thus  unhappiness  is  the  fruit  of  mere  desire ;  a  pro- 
longed abasement  over  an  early  course.  Reasoning  man 
may  leave  a  little  for  the  other.  The  composition  is  to  be 
made,  bound,  borne  in  mind,  first  over  the  surface  of  the 
earth  and  then  maintained  thereon.  In  the  tender  solici- 
tude it  takes  the  scum  and  is  amply  cared  for  by  the 
embodiment  within. 

"  Unless  the  constant  chipping  from  the  whole,  massing 
of  independent   quantities   is   avoided,   the   very   funda- 


228  THE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

mental  principles  will  be  frayed  away  only  to  vanish  in  a 
spiritual  outcry  of  agony  and  remain  such. 

"  A  free  intermingling  of  parts  can  only  prevent  the  dis- 
integration of  any  from  dearth  or  withering  hope,  or  pre- 
vent a  vast  accumulation  of  a  selfish  or  restricted  one  from 
the  whole  to  render  destruction  to  itself  feasible  by  the 
absorption  of  all  its  means  from  the  proper  sustenance  of 
the  rest. 

"  Reform  is  sometimes  based  on  progress.  But  any  abuse 
of  good  prepares  the  way  for  its  destruction  where  it  has 
piled  itself. 

tl  Where  evil  is  wrought,  in  the  first  instance,  a  deep  hole 
or  chasm  is  made,  wherein  much  traveling  good  must 
plunge  to  again  make  an  even  way  to  pass  over.  Thus 
reform  and  sacrifice  make  even  ground. 

"You  plant  a  seed  and  it  starts  to  grow:  charm  is  or  not 
the  commonplace  to  your  ordinary  eyes.  But,  having 
begun  with  ardent  desire,  the  wish  grows  ardency.  Or, 
having  enlightened  your  eyes  with  love,  you  find  treasures 
and  maintain  them  :  the  youth  or  the  maiden  is  oppositely 
enchantment  to  the  other.  Your  delusion  will  be  a  fond 
memory  even  when  your  judgment  has  awakened  your 
abandoned  apprehension. 

"With  embellishment  you  have  two-thirds  of  art :  grace 
draws  its  inspiration  from  the  surroundings. 

"  Wealth  is  an  anomaly.  It  is  a  natural  sequence  that 
all  persons  should  be  rich,  a  happy  but  none  the  less  true 
allusion  and  realizable.  A  few  exceptions  may  be  the 
unfortunately  perverse.  The  scriptural  verification,  or  the 
philosophical  doctrine  of  accretion  to  the  strong  and  attract- 
ive from  the  weak  and  unretentive  or  not  strongly  relative 
is  a  disturbing  force  hard  to  dispose  or  eradicate  from  the 
unremunerative  species. 

"The  proper  enjoyment  of  anything  constitutes  wealth 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  229 

itself  for  the  time  being;  to  secure  these  recurring  times 
and  in  as  many  instances  as  nature  has  provided  consti- 
tutes the  problem.  Free  intercourse,  unrestricted  trade 
lay  the  foundation  for  this  system  —  to  favor  a  few  and 
restrain  the  others  works  its -bane.  What  favors  the  few? 
Your  indulgence  and  the  privileges  you  give  them  by  cur- 
tailing yourselves.  You  should  not  only  not  countenance 
the  wrongful  practices  of  the  other,  but  you  should  scru- 
pulously yourself  eschew  them  and  your  community  will 
be  rich  and  prosperous.  Your  nation,  that  will  employ 
all  fruits  properly  wherever  produced,  will  offer  you  the 
satisfaction  of  the  world,  as  well  as  the  highest  patronage, 
and  will  profit  thereby  and  enjoy  a  lucrative  trade,  in 
equal  compensation ;  but,  restricted  trade  to  home  produc- 
tion or  consumption  cannot  compel  virtue  nor  prevent 
abandon.  Due  precaution  must  meet  any  interference 
with  a  natural  right,  whilst  the  observance  of  the  latter 
comports  more  nearly  to  any  mutual  compact.  The 
mutual  consolidation  of  interests  in  the  community  life 
has  not  as  much  relegated  natural  privileges  as  intended 
to  make  them  more  rational.  To  this  end  not  a  restric- 
tion but  a  liberality  is  required.  There  are  no  restrictions 
of  compact,  but  there  is  practically  the  enlargement  of 
natural  rights  therein. 

"Winds  may  blow  and  stir  the  things  on  and  above  the 
surface  and  cast  them  down  —  yet  may  not  move  the  human 
ashes  or  break  a  cobweb;  but  something  from  within 
must  cause  an  upheaval.  Should  the  prudent  encroach 
the  whole  domain?  Why  do  rivers  congeal  deeper  with 
greater  and  continued  cold?  Questions  contain  their  own 
answers  if  philosophically  framed. 

"What  then  makes  the  rich  and  the  poor  man? 
The  former  the  latter  and  the  latter  himself;  and  the 
latter    the    former.     This    intricate    interlineation    is    a 


230  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

perfectly      traceable      labyrinth      with      due      threaded 
caution. 

"Advantages,  at  this  stage  of  the  world,  can  only  be 
obtained  by  overwhelming,  mental  diligence  and  charac- 
teristic deceit.  And  can  only  be  accomplished  over  the 
weakly,  the  unwary  and  the  indolent.  The  opposites  to 
the  development  of  power  are  harassing  circumstances,  as 
all  power  is  beautiful  and  naturally  beneficial;  but  the 
happy  votary  and  successful  prosecutor  of  the  enlight- 
ened course  so  far  should  not  forget  him  or  herself,  when 
the  provisions  for  necessity  have  been  wrested  from  this 
benighted  opposition,  as  to  forget  the  elements  of  mercy, 
which,  after  all,  enable  him,  too,  to  succeed.  Hopelessly 
irresponsible,  individuals  are  afflicted  by  extraneous,  nat- 
ural causes  over  which  we  have  little  or  no  control  and 
always  merit  the  utmost  compassion;  and,  in  my  old 
country,  they  have  come  the  nearest,  that  I  am  aware  of, 
to  esteeming  this  a  prime  law. 

"What  develops,  practically,  overreaching  power?  The 
catering  of  all  to  it.  In  your  lovely,  comprehensive  coun- 
try here  would  you  desire  to  purchase  only  of  yourselves, 
and  thus  limit  yourselves,  with  all  the  surrounding  oppor- 
tunities of  no  benefit  to  you ;  or  only  obtain  from  the 
others  what  you  could  not  produce  or  did  not,  otherwise, 
possess?  Power  can  wield  itself  only  over  necessities. 
This  brings  us  to  economy:  Make  everything  you  can 
yourself  for  yourself,  and  obtain  from  others  only  what 
you  cannot  make  for  what  you  can  produce.  But  adduce 
this  with  a  liberality  that  brings  you  the  products  of  the 
world  for  your  disposal. 

"And  add  to  that  your  products  for  the  world,  and 
Christianity  is  complete.  This  is  common  sense.  Thus  in 
order  together:  Mere  economy,  intelligent  economy, 
Christian  economy  or  endeavor. 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  231 

"  In  a  proper  sense  everything  is  a  necessity,  and  nothing 
a  luxury ;  yet,  under  certain  conditions,  for  the  time  being 
anything  may  become  a  luxury.  Thus,  be  not  deluded  by 
the  canted  division  of  necessities  and  luxuries,  for  who 
can  presume  to  know  my  and  your  absolute  needs,  or  can 
determine  what  is  a  deprivation  and  what  is  not,  when  the 
requirements  of  our  constitutions  are  as  diversified  as 
there  are  principles  and  means  to  sustain  them.  Our 
ignorance  of  them  is  our  greatest  stumbling-block.  To  a 
Christian,  these  principles  present  no  unenlightened 
announcements. 

"Economy  is  the  employment  of  all  things  to  use. 
Ignorant  discrimination  is  equal  to  willful  abuse.  Slavery 
may  be  a  negative  as  well  as  an  affirmative  proposition. 
[Restriction  will  naturally  lead  to  abuse,  to  satisfy  a  cer- 
tain quantity,  while  enlargement  of  provision  must  curtail 
single  employment  to  meet  the  extent.  Those  who  have 
selfish  interests  teach  forbearance  as  economy,  and  absorb 
the  greater  portion,  while  the  judicious  have  plenty  in 
forbearance. 

"Economy  means  to  obtain  what  you  reasonably  can. 
It  is  not  unreasonable  to  deal  with  the  whole  world,  because 
your  existence  therein  is  not  a  fault.  To  limit  yourself 
from  useful  possibilities  is  to  limit  the  proper  use  of  them. 
The  space  of  the  world  is  required  to  contain  itself;  the 
earth  is  probably  not  elastic  although  it  may  be  hollow — ■ 
in  the  latter  event  it  will  collapse.  But  it  is  all  the 
ground  you  have.  The  different  provisions  are  not  as 
much  for  local  uses  as  for  interchange.  Logically  each 
part  is  for  the  support  of  the  other  parts,  being  unable  to 
support  itself.  Whatever  connections  therefore  contrive 
for  themselves  are  merely  incidental  to  such  productions. 
Interchange  is  the  rest  and  strength  of  the  universe. 

"■When  those  supplicating  for  protection  constitute  the 


232  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

affluent,  and  the  intrinsic  values  of  their  possessions  broach 
to  you  their  inherent  inabilities,  these  circumstances  should 
arouse  your  apprehensions.  Who  shall  protect  you  in  turn 
from  them  ?  It  is  in  vain  to  invoke  the  same  power  when 
that  power  has  sacrificed  all  in  creating  the  iniquity. 

"So-called  local  pride  is  a  personal  hauteur,  bringing 
but  trouble  and  disappointment.  A  healthy  prosperity 
and  tranquillity  to  the  community  is  the  affability  of  the 
individuals  to  the  world. 

"Nations  are  not  abnormal  creatures  nor  their  govern- 
ments but  man  himself  in  the  individual.  You  cannot 
escape  your  fellow-man  to  increase  your  bounty,  and  cer- 
tainty grows,  beautiful,  delightful,  with  its  accumulations, 
which  is  encompassed  by  range ;  and  beauty  comprises  and 
bounds  the  earth.  Some  malcontents  would  upset  every- 
thing and  create  something  else  in  the  wind.  These  create 
division  in  the  multitude,  then  in  the  individual  and  are 
self-seeking  heads. 

"  You  cannot  practice  economy  from  gaining  nothing,  nor 
protect  what  you  have  not  gained.  From  narrow  princi- 
ples you  can  gain  but  a  small  strip  —  and  all  cannot  stand 
upon  it.  In  this  event  only  the  favored  few  will  be 
accommodated,  of  necessity.  Establish  all  the  room  you 
can  get  for  a  free  engagement:  do  not  imprison  yourself 
for  the  battle. 

"  Can  you  feed  upon  your  intestines  ?  If  another  can 
produce  cheaper  or  better  than  yourself,  that  is  his  enti- 
tled opportunity  :  help  him  with  your  knowledge  and  sup- 
port. You  are  not  a  natural  imbecile  :  there  is  a  field  for 
you  because  there  remains  so  much  more  to  do  and  your 
neighbor  has  his  employment.  He  needs  your  productions 
and  that  is  his  compensation.  The  base  of  this  principle 
is  broad  enough,  embracing  the  world,  and  affords  its  own 
compensating  mission. 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  233 

"The  principle  of  'high  protection'  is  wrong  because  it 
is  a  piercing  projection,  impaling  friend  or  foe,  who  is 
forced  to  encounter  it — therefore  solely  a  marauder's 
implement. 

"A  protective  tariff  is  the  exclusion  of  the  products  of 
anyone,  even  is  what  would  restrict  local  production,  be- 
cause on  no  trade  basis  with  the  world,  therefore  of  easy 
local  overproduction  and  stagnation  in  unhealthy  *  pools '  — 
for  selfishness  knows  no  bound  save  force.  Your  beautiful 
country  will  rapidly  build  up  from  and  with  outside  aid; 
you  will  benefit  them  and  they  you.  This  is  reciprocal 
free  trade ;  the  happy  tendency,  yet  incomplete,  must  lead 
to  the  happy  chamber,  reached  when  the  final  step 
is  taken.  As  is  right,  if  universally  applied  free 
trade  would  thus  evolve  itself.  The  projectors  of  limited 
reciprocity  contemplated  no  less  and  adopted  it  as  an  expe- 
diency even  in  their  narrow,  selfish  views  because  of  neces- 
sity. And  complete  reciprocity  is  the  most  happy 
interchange  of  life  —  but  it  is  the  freest  trade  possible, 
which  guarantees  and  gauges  benefits  and  not  mere  meas- 
ures, mechanical  in  their  hard  sciences.  Encouragement  is 
the  life  of  trade  —  and  general  trade  is  the  life  of  man : 
encouragement  must  come  from  someone,  first.  He  who 
oils  the  spindles  of  his  running-gears,  will  have  smooth- 
going  vehicles. 

"But,  how  about  that  nation,  that  will  not  exchange  with 
you ;  or,  can  produce  cheaper  what  you  can,  also,  produce 
(that  obstetricated  also  itself  implies  the  want  of  the 
necessity  of  its  product  there,  by  those  means  being  itself 
a  producer  in  any  direction;  hence,  note,  again,  a  philo- 
sophical question)  and  will  not,  or,  cannot,  take  as  much 
from  you  as  you  from  them  —  who  will  suffer  most  by 
this  obstinacy  or  inability,  or,  if  they  do  not  admit  your 
products,  and  you  do  theirs,  who  will  be  the  wiser  ? 


234  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

"  What  yields  the  most  breaks  the  last,  of  otherwise 
equal  strength  against  like  force — and  man  is  alike  the 
world  over. 

"If  you  receive  their  goods,  and  they  refuse  yours,  they 
must  take  their  pay  in  something,  or  go  without  it,  thus 
making  you  a  present  —  in  the  latter  event,  of  course,  you 
would  rightfully  maintain,  that  you  were  the  gainer  by 
their  obstinacy,  by  no  fault  of  yours.  But,  they  want  their 
pay.  Do  not  give  it  to  them  by  a  provision^  by  means  of 
which,  they  may,  at  any  time,  have  you,  completely,  at  their 
mercy:  your  provision  of  remuneration  is  what  encourages 
their  trade  with  you. 

"No  medium  of  exchange  is  merely  adequate,  excepting 
the  spiritual  understanding  by  true  values.  Neither  the 
object,  nor  worse,  the  vehicle,  can  bear  it. 

"  The  credit-system  and  open  record,  which  all  the 
enlightened  world  now  practicably  employs,  in  the  main 
can  accomplish  the  profitable  ends  of  business  with  secu- 
rity against  oppression.  The  trouble  lies  in  the  want  of 
their  completion  —  the  worrying,  diverting  attentions  to 
divergent  aspects.  This  dead,  barbaric  usage  of  an  insig- 
nificant article  as  a  symbol  and  therefore  as  the  most 
ready  means  of  manipulation  and  oppression,  requiring 
every  faith  to  maintain  it  and  yet  is  the  saddest  travesty 
upon  credit  itself,  is  the  poorest  evidence  of  man's  intelli- 
gence this  day  and  a  burlesque  on  his  supposed  advance. 
The  plight  of  uncertainty  brings  its  own  caprice — and 
uncertainty  cannot  create  complaisance. 

"  This  is  not  preaching  an  abstract  morality,  but  is  a  true 
deduction.  Popular  government  has  proven  itself  the 
blessing,  not  the  bane  of  the  world,  as  is  evidenced  by  my 
old  country.  Therefore  by  a  popular  interchange  of  val- 
ues, based  upon  a  greater  credit  than  has  been  known  be- 
fore,  the  world  over,  with  open  record  and  transaction 


HIS  LAST  LECTURE.  235 

the  dawn  of  prosperity  in  the  welfare  of  mankind  will 
first  gleam  in  this  progressive  age,  as  by  the  same  rule  of 
extended  enlightenment  and  faith  the  present  progress 
may  be  traced  back  in  whatever  is  good  therein  to  such 
like  incipient  motions.  Read  history  in  pairs,  it  begets 
its  usufruct,  and  solve  the  union  with  discretion ! 

"  No  foreign  provision  can  bankrupt  you. 

"  Rest  assured,  your  industry  produced  and  produces 
what  they  want  from  your  natural  and  accomplished 
advantages  —  and  if  it  is  business  you  want,  in  every 
sense  thereof,  then  you  will  find  it  only  beneficially  com- 
plete and  happily  unbroken,  in  meeting  these  charges  on 
you  at  the  best  advantage. 

"  Imagine  a  farmer  producing  solely  for  his  own  living  on 
and  from  his  farm  —  what  inducement,  what  incentive, 
which  alternatives  ?  And  coidd  the  world  permit  this, 
for  his  and  its  own  enlightenment  ? 

"  Yet,  suppose,  you  become  indebted  to  these  others  for 
their  products,  what  will  they  have?  Gold  and  silver 
and  your  lands  and  such  products,  which  they  cannot 
produce,  or  as  well,  and  yet  want  —  must  want,  in  all  rea- 
son, as  already  shown.  It  is  folly  in  you  to  add  to  their 
values  anything,  which  may  bind  you  and  no  one  else, 
excepting,  again,  that  it  be  as  a  matter  of  mere  industry, 
when,  being  compensated  as  such,  you  have  the  inevi- 
table profit  of  labor ;  but,  your  fiat  to  a  worthless  article, 
makes  a  baby  of  a  reeking  rag  or  a  cymbal  of  your  sound- 
ing brass  and  ignorance  —  gold  or  silver  move  no  degree, 
but,  are  a  poorer  solder  than  even  lead ! 

"Why  do  we  esteem  vanity  our  highest  glory,  when  it 
leaves  such  terrible  heartaches  in  its  stead  ?  God  places 
in  nature  the  symbols  of  good  and  evil  that  daily  may  be 
read  the  living  page  of  awful  yet  beautiful  truths  of  life. 
Pointed  maxims  are  dead  creeds. 


236  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

"  But,  you  say,  you  do  not  wish  to  be  confined  to  '  farm- 
ing' and  'mining'  —  as  though  there  were  any  difference, 
but,  want  to  make  '  pretty  things,'  too. 

"Well,  granting  your  whim,  that  the  one  vocation 
supersedes  the  other  or  is  less  a  duty  or  labor,  if  con- 
scientiously prosecuted  or  more  <  respectable,'  should 
everybody  else  be  compelled  to  trade  with  you,  in  the 
first  instance  because  you  wish  to  follow  a  fancy  with 
your  friends;  but  is  not  your  scheme  one  to  compel  these 
to  purchase  from  you  at  your  own  terms,  or  better  to  have 
all  other  resources  therefor  cut  off,  to  enrich  yourself  by 
the  monopoly  ?  Put  yourself,  mentally,  in  the  place  of  a 
monopolist  and  reflect. 

"  Would  you  not,  cheerfully,  extend  this  monopoly  over 
the  whole  world  and  accept  from  every  government  the 
protection  for  your  goods  as  the  sole  ones  to  be  sold,  and 
cry,  'blessed  protection';  is  your  love  of  country,  in  the 
abstract,  more  than  your  greed;  and  would  anyone,  other 
than  yourselves  and  the  few,  comparatively,  you  would 
select  and  wield,  be  commensurately  benefited  ? 

"Two  nationalities  or  races  are  to-day  from  divers 
sources  and  causes  at  the  apex  of  practical  life  in  its  empty 
enjoyments.  Without  home  or  land,  exiles  in,  but  the 
product  and  possessors,  in  a  measure  of  natural  freedom 
of  care,  of  the  world,  one  enjoys  life  in  the  incipiency  of 
dawn  but  in  ignorance,  the  other  is  satiated  to  an  abstract 
and  abandoned  endeavor.  The  first,  the  victim  of  man- 
kind and  original  own  folly,  the  other  its  own,  while  the 
former  rises  into  light  by  the  beaming  grace  of  redemp- 
tion, the  latter  might  almost  perceive  this  abandoning 
gloom  still  settling  upon  itself;  but  is  the  world  to  ema- 
nate from  its  humblest,  and  prophesy  " — 


TIME  HAS  FLOWN.  237 


CHAPTER   XXX. 


TIME     HAS     FLOWN". 


A  quarter  of  a  century  ago  (this  twenty-fifth  anniver- 
sary observance  of  the  event  reminding  ns  forcibly  of  the 
occurrence)  Penrod  Hilbuck  was  discovered  at  his  desk, 
serene  and  quiet  and  complacent  in  death;  a  contented 
aspect  of  features  marked  his  restful  repose.  The  shock 
to  the  community  can  be  better  imagined  than  described, 
as  the  sad  intelligence  coursed  like  lightning  to  its  heart; 
consonantly  to  Lis  teachings,  it  would  not  have  been  to 
respect  him,  not  to  believe  that  he  had  gone  to  his  peace- 
ful rest,  and  all  utterances  by  one  accord  so  beautifully 
interwove  his  departure  with  that,  preceding  by  less  than 
five  years,  of  his  beloved  unforgotten  Kathleen,  that  the 
pathway  o'er  which  he  had  trod,  seemed  enveloped  with 
such  a  bliss  of  roses  that  scarcely  a  sigh  could  be  sup- 
pressed to  pass  over  a  similar  one. 

The  solemn  purpose  of  a  cherished  joy,  in  purity,  is, 
ever,  the  disillusioned  penetration  of  gloom. 

Resting,  in  their  silent  chambers,  side  by  side,  the 
earthy  bond  connects  them,  as  it  disunited  them :  by  the 
walls  of  the  grave.  But,  annually,  those  graves  are 
strewn  with  flowers  by  an  admiring  people,  thankful  that 
these  had  lived  to  show  their  love  of  beauty  and  the 
beauty  of  love,  for  his  instructions  and  services  to  them, 
coming  alone,  would  have  been  a  service;  and,  he  loved 
her  and  they  loved  each  other,  and  she  bore  with  her  his 
reward,  as  her  distinction  the  object  of  true  devotion. 

Annually,  the  seasons  have  wept  and  joyed  again  over 


238  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

their  resting-places ;  and  the  tributes  of  flowers  and  tears 
to  the  dead  are  a  token  of  the  withering  from  which 
springs  new  hopes  of  joy.  In  the  language  of  the  old 
school-master,  when  he  returned  from  his  first  voyage: 
"  The  earth  is  one  surprise  ;  it  overhangs  all  its  shadows ! " 

But  he  too  has  passed  away,  from  surprise  and  shadows 
both,  to  the  beyond,  and  the  elderly  ones,  of  the  early 
stirring  times,  from  which  this  present  prosperity  imme- 
diately dates,  are  alive  only  in  their  works  which  will 
never  die,  in  loving  memories  and  in  art,  the  earthly  thing, 
which  has  striven  to  maintain  their  earthly  figurements, 
by  stone,  paint  and  threads.  We  gaze  with  wonderment 
upon  these  delineations;  new  agencies  are  at  work  among 
us  and  in  their  places,  yet  they  preceded  them  and  gave 
the  impetus  and  are  the  foundation  ! 

Young  Penrod  Hilbuck  Mason  has  arisen  to  the  greatest 
prominence  of  affairs,  to  the  utmost  commensurate  with 
his  youth  and  age  ;  his  abilities  are  of  the  highest  order, 
and  his  integrity  and  morality,  as  though  it  were  possible 
for  his  great  namesake,  in  addition,  to  have  shed  "his 
mantle  "  upon  him,  are  an  illumination  to  mankind.  He 
could  barely  remember  the  elder  Penrod's  devoted  atten- 
tions to  him,  as  little  more  than  an  infant ;  how  he  directed 
even  his  amusements  to  intelligence,  and  made  the 
pursuit  of  early  knowledge  the  pleasure  of  or  a  pastime 
to  him.  But  although  early  and  suddenly  bereft  of  the 
attention,  that  would  have  fostered  his  every  good  attri- 
bute, he  never  forewent  the  inclinations  which  were  so 
kindly  indicated  by  this  master  of  the  human  arts  and 
mind. 

Thus,  his  connection  with  the  newspaper  office,  which 
is  handled  by  an  able,  honorable,  conscientious  faculty, 
gives  him  that  distinction,  which  nature,  at  some  times  and 
in  certain  places,  allows  to  a  subject:  he  is  looked  upon, 


TIME  HAS  FLOWN.  239 

by  nature  and  acquirements  and  perseverance,  as  the  center 
of  embellishment,  from  which  all  could  radiate  with 
becoming  credit  to  themselves,  for,  he  is  inherently  mod- 
est and  pure. 

Are  there  qualities,  strictly  earthly,  which  nature  may, 
through  its  spiritual  connections  and  flights  throughout  the 
universe,  transmit  to  their  following,  or  leave  behind  to 
constitute  a  following  ?  Young  Penrod  must  have  delighted 
his  illustrious  sponsor.  While  the  latter's  spirit,  in  the 
nature  of  things,  being  in  his  craved  rest  and  happy  union, 
could  not  imbue  him,  yet  the  spirit  that  moved  the 
former  as  a  result  of  or  from  the  latter,  was  the  one  he 
left  behind;  the  living  spirit  of  his  faith,  in  his  work;  that 
he  could  transmit,  and  that  solely  be  now  available  to  the 
former,  because  that  spirit  alone  remained  connected  with 
the  deed. 

Dead  are  all  the  spirits  gone,  dead  to  this  world  — 

Their  work  was  done,  and  fusing  to  a  higher  point, 

Their  vapors  cannot  fall  in  clarified  reform, 

But  lingering  form  the  ether  of  the  beauteous  sky. 

The  falling  is  from  that  twixt  heaven  and  earth, 

The  vain  outreaching ;  thus  their  efforts  fail, 

Since  all  of  earth  no  choice  can  them  avail. 

A  manifestation,  seemingly  from  yon  bourn, 

Is  by  we  creatures'  efforts  not  here  born, 

But  what  may  come  is  sent  by  that  Yored  Power, 

Which  sends  here  that  which  will  endure  fore'er. 

'Tis  vain  to  hope  that  earthly  things  can  help, 

And  hopelessly  for  earth  its  spirits  t'  envel'pe ; 

Nor  do  the  spirits  supplicate  the  Lord  — 

The  Lord  implies  and  they  know  but  His  Word. 

With  too  much  early  striving,  hence,  therefore, 

He  took  his  reason ;  whither  was  it  borne  ? 

Things  are  great  to  us,  compared  with  that  to  which 
we  were  previously  accustomed;  thus  in  panegyrizing  the 


240  TIIE   TROUBLE    OF   LIVING  ALONE. 

achievements,  in  this  community,  for  its  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury it  is  only  a  comparison,  and  the  completion  is  still 
far  off. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

HILBUCK. 

A  beauteous  state  ;  a  charming  city  this  jeweled  Hilbuck, 

It  built  its  fountains  in  the  rocky  sides, 

And  with  its  pinions  formed  the  sturdy  flights, 

Which  swept  the  air  through  storm  and  clouds  and  lights, 

Nor  when  the  gloom  was  close  with  its  black  mantle's  shroud, 

That  e'er  it  faltered  ;  but  green  its  e'er  refreshened  base, 

And  with  the  course  as  meetly  to  its,  lightning,  mate. 

Genius  is  unfolded  by  grand  opportunities ;  and  oppor- 
tunities are  unfolded  by  meek  genius. 

Hilbuck  has  become  a  glorious,  a  delightful  city,  or 
rather  circumference ;  one  of  the  capital  spots  of  the  world 
— but,  they  are  all  that,  now — no,  no,  in  fact,  they  have 
become  one,  one  city  —  one  world,  with  parks  and  lakes 
and  oceans,  and  grand  mountains  and  grottos  and  canons, 
and  beautiful  streams,  all  by  way  of  general  embellish- 
ments, and  uses ;  for,  lightning  has  drawn  all  together  — 
melted  into  one  glowing  mass  —  the  warm  impulse  of  the 
heart,  and  its  correlative,  the  dashing  fluid,  as  its  visible 
steed.  Its  work  is  never  a  slow  progress,  though  some- 
times its  uncompleted  circulation  will  leave  a  momentous 
unfinished  or  partial  wreck. 

Penrod  Hilbuck  never  saw  his  beloved  United  States 
again;  the  old  poet  (together  they  are  where  he  predicted) 
had  a  Heaven-sent  premonition  of  his  friend's  early 
departure,  whither  he  himself  followed  soon.  Hilbuck 
had  felt  impressed,  that  his  beautiful,  typical  American 


HILBUCK.  241 

state  of  Ohio  —  its  feet  laved  in  the  "  Beautiful  River," 
resting  the  rear  one  on  the  «  Old  Dominion  "  and  stepping 
speedily  on  the  bright,  velvety  carpet  of  «  Blue  Grass ; " 
"Gemmed"  at  the  "Wolverine"  (voracious)  capped  brow, 
between  the  "Keystone"  of  its  fortunes  and  "Hoosier 
State,"  rotund,  shining,  fecund  "Buckeye,"  poisonous  to 
be  devoured;  "freedom"  and  "union"  at  its  base,  a 
"beautiful  outlook"  at  its  head,  "virtue,  liberty  and 
independence  "  at  its  heart  and  the  mighty  right  of  earth's 
fruitful  industry,  an  "empire"  in  the  world  —  should 
never  see  him  again.  But  he  lies  in  ignorance  of  the 
developing  changes  that  have  been  wrought  in  his 
beloved  domain. 

We  love  the  old,  all-failing  things  of  Past, 

The  useless  traps  that  call  their  memories  dear  — 

To  clean  our  hearts  in  moments  from  our  days, 

and  could  he  now  comprehend  the  intelligence  that  a  new 
state,  a  young  unsophisticated  thing,  had  to  build  the  new 
foundation  of  a  worldly  progress,  while  old  states  were 
crumbling,  but  so  benighted  in  their  gloomy  structures 
that  they  could  perceive  nothing  but  their  most  immediate 
surroundings,  he  would  have  lamented  the  failings  of  old 
age  and  experience,  and,  while  glorying  that  his  own 
country  was  the  fountain-head  of  refreshment  to  the 
world,  must  have,  pityingly,  followed  the  old  orders  to 
their  graves.  Make  a  habit  of  success  of  undertakings; 
but  make  the  undertakings  proper,  too.  Avoid  prejudice; 
eschew  cant,  and  taste  a  little  of  the  bitterness  of  woe,  to 
tone  you  up,  that  you  may  sympathize  with  the  afflicted. 

What  land  may  prosper  by  sudden  convulsions  ?  Though 
the  filth  may  be  covered  thereby,  it  takes  much  righteous- 
ness to  do  it. 

No  greater  monument  could  exist  to  him,  to  the  public 


242  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

and  private  unselfish  and  enlightened  efforts  of  Penrod 
Hilbuck,  than  the  practical  demonstration  and  realization 
of  his  tenets.  But  a  grand  work  of  art,  nevertheless, 
such  as  the  annals  of  the  world  do  not,  to  our  comprehen- 
sion, disclose  a  parallel,  has  been  erected  to  his  memory 
by  an  appreciative  populace.  Artistic  genius  had  received 
a  wonderful  stimulus  from  his  doctrines,  everybody 
obtained  such  unbroken  employment  by  his  enlighten- 
ment, which  made  them  a  part  of  the  science  of  life,  that 
it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  it  exhausted  itself  by 
jubilance,  for  the  time  being,  to  his  remembrance. 

A  huge  edifice  of  gray  polished  and  ornamentally  chis- 
eled granite  forms  the  body  of  the  building  (co-tempora- 
neous,  detailed  records  will  give  you  facts  and  figures, 
while  ready  facilities  to  give  the  sight  will  not  allow  you 
to  forego  the  pleasure  of  a  personal  inspection,  well  to  be 
rewarded  for  beholding  the  untrammeled  and  delightful 
genius  of  man),  then  follows  the  interweaving  of  science 
and  art,  almost  identical  as  they  are,  blending  into  pleas- 
ant shades,  the  results  of  discovery  and  invention,  produc- 
tion and  application,  that  not  a  metal,  nor  a  pictorial 
device,  is  forgotten  in  the  embellishment  and  durability  of 
the  mausoleum. 

How  he  loved  the  fellowship  of  mankind  and  so  taught 
its  indispensable  benefits  here,  the  gentle  passions,  the 
yearnings,  the  doubts,  tribulations  and  fears,  and  the 
impatience,  which  sometimes  mars  human  tranquillity,  all 
have  their  resemblances,  in  the  graceful  delineations  of 
shade  and  material,  in  their  suggestive,  exquisite  outlines. 

The  building  rests  on  an  eminence,  which  overlooks  the 
surrounding  country  and  upon  the  immediate  entrance  of 
the  harbor,  the  open  portals  of  the  world,  created  so  by 
nature  herself,  and  this  principal  entrance  of  the  stately 
portal  as  though  typical  of  the  next  earthly  discoveries  is 


HILBUCK.  243 

directly  oil  the  north,  and  the  principal  portal  itself  looks 
that  way.  A  broad  avenue  leads  up  the  incline,  over 
which  pass  the  elevating  cars  on  almost  invisible  tracks, 
seeming  to  come  into  existence  when  required  and  then 
they  disappear.  As  the  whole  memorial  is  a  speaking 
paragon,  this  may  be  likened  to  the  course  of  mental  dis- 
cipline upon  proper  instruction,  by  which  the  smooth 
aspect  of  the  way  itself  is  a  shielding  light  of  reflection. 

This  course  is  daily  cleaned  by  a  flood  of  clear  water 
over  it  discharged  by  an  electrical  clock-work. 

The  cars  themselves  are  marvels  of  human  delight, 
which  transport  the  passengers  to  the  portals  above,  mov- 
ing noiselessly  by  power  transmitted  from  beneath  invisi- 
bly, and  constructed  wholly  of  bright  polished  metals  and 
glass,  in  which  enter  all  the  fantasies  of  color  as  though 
to  bear  study  in  the  waiting  expectations  into  all  the 
realms  of  bliss.  The  exterior  walls  are  adjustably  remov- 
able, leaving  a  strong  railing  of  clearest,  crystal  glass, 
making  protection  in  that  regard  even  an  invisible  obsta- 
cle. Mechanically  moving  fans  waft  fresh  breezes  into 
the  compartments,  which  may  be  created  by  readily 
placed  partition  of,  also,  glass.  Isolation  is  not  accom- 
panied by  concealment,  and  is  really  only  employed  by 
those  requiring  a  secluded  atmosphere  for  the  time  being 
from  physical  need. 

On  either  side  of  this  avenue  grand  pillars  arise,  typical 
of  historical  facts;  on  either  side,  respectively,  the  noble 
figures  of  Adam  and  Eve  stand  in  the  entrance  to  the 
way,  heroic  size,  of  gold,  but  so  refined  and  administered 
as  to  intimately  resemble  the  texture  and  coloring  of  the 
human  skin,  which  together  with  the  speaking  attitudes 
of  the  figures  make  them  very  realistic  and  even  awful,  so 
little  removed  from  our  ideas  of  the  visible  angel,  that  we 
are  glad  that  they  are  only  our  own  productions  and  that 


244  TIIE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

we  know  it,  especially  as  at  night  their  countenances  are 
electrically  illuminated  and  a  halo  of  glory  surrounds  their 
heads,  which  we  have  placed  there,  however;  thus,  they 
present  the  beginning.  At  times  sadly  intoned,  musical 
renditions  sweetly,  softly  emanate  between  their  outlined 
lips,  and  when  the  blending,  great  harmony  of  all  the  figures 
produce  a  wave,  or  ocean  of  charmed  execution,  of  hope,  at 
stated  periods,  the  world's  delights  seem  to  be  wafted,  giving 
rise  to  entrancing  reflections ;  this  is  a  popular  resort. 

As  space  would  be  too  brief,  there  need  be  no  attempt 
at  describing  the  marvels  of  suggestive  possibilities,  dem- 
onstrated in  metals  and  mould  and  by  hammer,  that  are 
portrayed  here  —  the  grand  figures,  which  represent  the 
various  struggles,  ever  upwards  against  the  deepening 
gloom  to  light. 

A  punishment  on  the  way  of  progress  and  elevation, 
until  shortly  before  the  last  era  the  greatest  hopelessness 
is  depicted,  easily  described  as  the  age  of  philosophical 
transcription.  A  little  dawn  becomes  perceptible  —  the 
tendency  upwards,  the  gloom  forever  serene. 

But  so  realistic  and  fiery  is  every  flash  of  light,  and  so 
demoniacal  is  every  burst  of  passion,  as  betrayed  here  by 
man's  skillful  counterfeits,  to  honor  the  man  who  suggested 
their  existence  and  removal,  as  to  be  lesson,  unmistakably, 
in  their  artistical  expressions;  and  a  solemn  music,  in 
tender  tones,  recites  the  incidents  of  woe,  in  thrilling  heart- 
rending inflections,  yet  sweetly  counseling  peace  to  the 
troubled  heart,  through  faith  and  perseverance  to  the  cer- 
tain glory  bey  oik  1. 

Man's  mechanics,  through  his  latest  accessory,  or  his 
arrival  into  the  present  age,  almost  hold  the  throbs  of  the 
universe  in  his  hands,  and  could  communicate,  from  a 
common  center,  the  impulses  of  his  joys  and  terrors — for 
the  removal  of  the  latter. 


HILB  UCK.  245 

Arrived  at  the  top,  a  broad  expanse  of  granite  flooring, 
roofed  over  with  a  labyrinth  of  beauty  in  blending  of 
threads,  all  strings  of  glowing  electrical  lighting,  and  the 
hues  and  shades  of  metallic  coloring,  lofty  arched  vaults, 
with  the  brilliance  of  the  lights  in  cut  glasses,  vari-hued 
globes,  on  the  wires,  like  veritable  arteries — all  is  a  burst 
of  glory,  all  the  more  remarkable,  as  superseding  all  the 
wondrous  things  below. 

Weeping  figures,  in  mankind's  size  and  of  its  distressed 
attitudes,  are  distributed  all  over  in  the  places  prepared 
therefor,  and  represent  miseries  of  the  devotees  of  this 
world  in  their  various  aspects,  a  contrast,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  this  tomb,  to  its  well-earned,  exquisite  rest. 

The  abnormal  aspect  of  lamentation  for  the  peaceably 
departed  cannot  detract  from  the  latter's  glory,  except  by 
the  mere  appearance.     There  is  too  much  hope  beyond ! 

What  a  touching  scene,  at  a  glance,  of  what  suffering 
may  have  wrought  upon  this  enjoyable  earth;  here  dis- 
ease, there  lamentation,  supplication,  slavery,  the  restless- 
ness and  brutality  of  passion,  the  worn,  abashed  regard  of 
vice  or  indolence,  or  timidity  its  utter  hopelessness,  frus- 
trated purposes,  vain  ambitions,  the  frenzy  of  abandon,  and 
last,  but  not  least,  the  loss  of  reason  —  all  ignorance  so 
susceptible  to  computation  —  so  that  this  portal  presents 
the  entrance  at  grief,  which  is  gladly  passed  to  the  silence 
within  the  chamber  of  death,  where  all  the  ingenuity  of 
man  is  expended  in  its  marvels,  the  works  to  embellish, 
the  ideas  and  reality  of  this  last  resting-place,  reveling  in 
the  most  gorgeous  devices,  an  overwhelming  finale  of  fit- 
ting plaisance,  with  still  a  tender  pathos  of  regard  for  the 
depths  of  a  profound  solitude.  As  life-like  productions  of 
the  human  are  here  presented,  as  to  so  nearly  produce 
them,  to  require  conviction  of  the  counterfeits,  the  ele- 
ments of  motion  and  the  articulations  of  speech  are  omit- 


246  THE   TROUBLE  OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

ted,  as  the  productions  of  man,  because  their  addition 
would  make  the  spectacle  truly  gruesome  —  whereas,  now 
it  beautifully  embodies  its  true  idea  and  fascinates  the 
beholder. 

Death  they  paint  you,  and  alone  they  see  you  thus ! 

The  artist  must  exhaust  himself  in  rendering  the  beau- 
ties of  the  human  figure.  Kathleen  sits,  in  this  portrayal, 
demurely  beautiful,  pensive  as  in  life,  in  a  fitting  robe  of 
white ;  her  regard  is  to  the  circumscribed  distance ;  at  her 
feet  sits  the  master,  Hilbuck,  gazing  radiantly  up  into  her 
countenance;  a  feeling  of  inexpressible  peace  pervades  the 
view  —  no  illusion,  but  a  stationary  figure.  They  appear 
in  the  mere  semblance,  grand  enough  though,  of  their  own 
human  forms  and  figures,  and  speak,  as  likenesses,  out  of 
their  Past  in  this  blissful  quiet  and  inseparation  of  the 
Present  —  no  attempts  at  idealization,  and  the  lesson  is 
that  purity  accomplishes  its  surroundings;  love  is  an 
accomplishment  to  purity ;  but  a  serene  temperament  and 
a  calm  devotion  portray  the  unmistakable  developments  of 

joy- 

The  spiritual  world  is  represented,  and  as  fittingly  at 
this  point,  in  its  surroundings,  about  and  above,  as  to 
tread  etpially  as  mazily  this  realm  as  our  best  suppositions 
may  describe  in  it;  such  an  easy,  vapory,  yielding  dispo- 
sition, that  newr  vanishes  entirely,  but  gleams  with  the 
faces  here  and  there  which  we  forever  conjecture  to  our 
aids,  which  we  truly  invoke  by  their  strong,  pure  con- 
siderations; but  our  fancies  are  measured  by  their 
earthly  origins. 

Gloriously  this  temple  towers,  a  beacon-light,  far  out  to 
sea. 

The  city  or  rather  the  environments  of  Hilbuck  extend, 
many  miles  from  this  point,  in  every  direction,  and  the 
relative  abodes,  until  another  practioable  center,  of  the 


HILBUCK.  247 

machinery  of  general  distribution  and  for  substitution,  is 
reached,  embraces  all  around  beyond;  electrical  contriv- 
ances noiselessly,  swiftly,  in  ornamental  exhibitions,  or 
invisibly,  contrive  a  decided  net-work,  or  arterial  system 
of  communication  and  all  kinds  of  transportation ;  the 
whole  country,  the  entire  world,  in  fact,  can  be  one 
continuation  of  illumination,  for  wherever  foot  of  man 
can  or  did  tread,  there,  with  his  united  might,  nothing 
can  withstay  his  construction,  and  no  expense  is  consid- 
erable. Floods  of  harmony  may  swell  over  the  earth,  and 
can  be  garnered  and  preserved  for  future  use,  or  the 
visual  reflections  of  the  most  distant  friends  or  personages 
can  be  transmitted  to  view  while  any  conversation  may,  at 
the  same  time,  ensue  between  them  —  in  fact,  localities 
and  distances  but  serve  any  individual  convenience,  or 
desire,  as  they  are  intended,  always,  to  do;  no  unusual 
occurrence  is  to  hear  millions  of  good-nights  exchanged 
where  good-mornings  are  simultaneously  answered. 

The  electrical  age  of  purveyance  and  conveyance  has 
carried  with  it  the  electrical  current  of  human  hearts  to 
feel  and  express  tender,  communicated  regards.  It  is  no 
wonder  that  one  is  tempted  to  believe  that  God  works  in 
graduated  progression ;  but  such  a  fallacy  is  self-apparent 
in  the  fact  that  those  before  us  were  not  merely  the  step- 
ping-stones of  our  existence.  But  we  are  their  revela- 
tions, out  of  their  ruins,  by  our  reform. 

God  has  created  eternity  for  the  good  and  the  wicked, 
with  no  fascination  to  delude  an  interchange  or  exchange 
hereafter  between  them. 

Abiding  no  further,  if  we  use  every  facility  in  our  inge- 
nuity, for  proper  device,  we  do  more  than  those  who 
accomplish  a  sort  of  happiness  for  themselves  and  are 
astonished  thereat. 


248  THE  TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


A    TYPICAL    MEETING. 


An  annual  meeting  of  representative  men  delegated 
from  the  several  circles  is  held  at  a  different  place  each 
time,  at  which  the  occurrences  and  statistics  of  the  past 
year  are  discussed.  The  general  welfare  and  progress  are 
the  themes  about  which  the  sole  concern  centers  and  the 
few,  simple  remedies  of  legislation  are  easily  adjusted. 
Law  is  man's  obedience  solely  by  his  intelligence,  which 
regulates  its  necessity  as  well. 

No  complicated  order  of  government,  in  the  world  nor 
at  these  meetings,  is  involved.  A  thorough  daily  report 
of  our  affairs,  an  analysis  of  the  same  and  the  quick  and 
ready  transmission  kept  up  over  the  rapid  and  easy  com- 
munications enable  everyone  to  be  informed  and  make  the 
items  of  our  lives  a  scientifical  calculation.  Mere  chance 
and  every  effort  at  mystification  have  strenuously  been 
banished.     The  world  is  to  be  an  open  book. 

It  is  customary  to  select  an  eminent  personage  to  pre- 
side at  each  meeting  —  this  year  the  choice  fittingly  fell 
upon  Penrod  Hilbuck  Mason,  representing  the  circle  of 
Hilbuck.  This  profound  scholar  is  the  embodiment  of 
unselfish  and  exalted  nature. 

The  meeting  this  year  was  held  in  New  York  circle, 
the  large  hall  being  on  the  former  site  of  Wall  street,  but 
extending  from  which  the  cleared  and  beautified  stretches 
are  acres  of  charming  lawn  and  shrubbery  and  trees, 
nature  having  been  allowed  to  exert  its  pleasant  and 
invigorating  but  cultivated  self.     This  structure,  with  its 


A  TYPICAL  MEETING.  249 

grounds,  dimensions  and  embellishments  is  the  beautiful 
realization  of  man's  better  desires  and  is  sweetly  marvel- 
ous. Yet,  the  times  are  rife  with  such  enterprises  and 
surprises  upon  surprises. 

The  simple  government,  involving  but  few  function- 
aries, gives  no  room  for  bickerings  of  honor,  or  the  adjust- 
able means  give  no  choice  of  iniquity  in  its  ministration. 
The  various  officers  are  those  of  the  present  inquiry,  while 
the  affairs  practically  carry  on  themselves  in  the  natural, 
unswayed  course  of  man.  It  is  not  likely  the  world  pro- 
gresses by  the  elevation  of  a  few.  As  man  is  elevated 
to  the  higher  recognition  of  his  order  he  remains  with 
charity  in  the  fit  enforcements  of  his  intelligence  and 
discretion.  The  natural  law  is  obedience  to  simple 
compunctions. 

Thus,  developments  have  broadened  the  base  on  which 
mankind  mutually  stands  in  consideration.  The  less  is 
the  regard  to  and  power  of  the  individual  over  the  mass. 

Mr.  Mason  had  an  admirable  audience  to  address. 
Everyone  in  the  world  might  be  his  auditor  by  the  system 
of  telephone,  and  every  eye  view  him  by  the  system 
perfected  to  that  aspect.  What  with  the  preservation  of 
his  words  to  be  identically  rendered  in  sound  again  a 
thousand  times,  at  will,  cogitated  upon,  recorded  in  or 
against  his  behalf,  if  the  latter  were  his  charge,  the  pre- 
caution of  the  speaker  of  to-day  to  his  vast  audience,  to 
whom  he  is  visible  as  well  everywhere,  and  yet  perceives 
but  a  few  with  his  eyes,  his  responsibility,  all  tends  to 
test  a  man  of  integrity.  Mr.  Mason  is  profoundly  identi- 
cal with  the  times — the  knowledge  from  the  Past  is  his 
glimpse  into  the  Future,  yet  his  hope.  In  no  voluminous 
expression  he  spoke : 

"We  feel  overjoyed  at  our  temporal  aggrandizement  and 
personal  liberty  brought  about  by  universal  freedom  from 


250  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

the  tyranny  of  man.  How  long  shall  we  enjoy  them? 
The  ghostly  apparitions  answer  out  of  all  days,  <  Until  we 
enslave  ourselves  again ;  until  we  abuse  them.  Until  idle- 
ness, by  supplanting  enthusiasm,  burdens  again  the  few 
with  the  welfare  of  all,  when  the  patience  and  strength 
of  the  former  will  not  endure,  and  the  latter  are  over- 
wind ined  with  the  precipitated  load.  When  the  few 
absorb  the  substances  of  the  many  and  all  miserably  per- 
ish, the  former  from  surfeit,  the  latter  effeit.  Faults  are 
interchangeable  and  give  rise  to  new  eras.' 

"  Since  at  the  present  the  world  has  become  ours, 
wrested  from  the  tyrants  whose  semblance  was  not  man, 
we  are  no  longer  divided.  Our  ports  are  opened  and  all 
are  freely  accessible.  Why  ?  Because  we  have  so  much 
trade  with  one  another. 

"No  longer  need  we  tremble  at  the  unsophisticated 
touch  of  various  parts.  Great  schools  flourish  over  the 
world,  where  every  principle  is  taught  as  humanity  may 
unfold  it. 

"  Now  a  personage  may  discourse  to  all  the  world  by  his 
lips  and  in  his  presence,  from  the  north-pole  or  other 
extreme,  the  east,  the  west  or  the  equator,  and  all  others 
be  simultaneously  attentive  and  appreciative.  And  the 
mother  at  the  cradle  imbibe  the  knowledge  and  impart 
it  with  its  impressions  fresh  and  unobliterative  in  her 
endearings  to  her  instructed  darlings.  The  happy  me- 
chanic is  at  his  bench  and  his  shop  is  at  his  home,  with 
the  assistance  of  his  family  and  his  guide  and  instruction 
to  them.  Know  that  old  land-marks  have  vanished.  We 
have  come  into  the  presence  of  Heaven-blessed  science, 
and  man  is  not  man's  master,  but  is  acquiring  the  knowl- 
edge to  be  his  own,  if  possible. 

"Now  when  the  concerts  of  the  world  render  the  old 
masters  and  the  new  in  union,  under  some  master  director 


A  TYPICAL  MEETING.  251 

at  now  this  now  that  point  and  each  musician,  unnumbered, 
discourses  his  notes  and  part  into  the  ready  transmission 
of  sound  everywhere,  what  a  rendition  of  sound — one 
band  the  world  over  and  one  audience !  Such  entrancing 
sounds  literally,  and  the  charmed  sights  which  accompany 
every  hour,  are  they  not  the  value  of  life  ?  Love  is  the 
value  of  a  laborious  day.  Labor  is  the  cost  of  love  and 
its  produce  the  price  of  exhaustless  destruction  of  vice. 
Such  are  a  few  realities,  to  which  we  now  refer. 

"What  we  have  produced  is  manifest  in  the  higher 
intellectuality  and  material  welfare  of  man. 

"Now  since  the  old  walls  of  fortification  have  crum- 
bled, even  though  their  departure  long  afterdates  the 
absence  of  savage  warfare ;  now  that  whole  streets  have  lost 
their  rental  values  and  fortunes,  thereby  raised  their  scions 
into  equality  with  man,  that  is,  the  hard-hearted  existence 
of  monopolists  has  yielded  to  the  sway  of  progress  and 
humanity,  the  sigh  is  that  of  emancipation  and  an  air  of  self- 
relief.  It  seems  marvelous  to  us  how  conditions  could  so 
long  remain  contrary  to  the  intelligence  of  mankind;  how 
sordid  motives  even  could  so  long  sway  all  destinies. 

"What  is  traffic?  When  it  is  extended  to  the  home 
for  its  affairs  and  transactions  and  the  family  is  the  coad- 
jutor with  the  master  in  charge  and  responsibility,  then 
our  wonderful  citizenship,  our  endeared  manhood  and 
womanhood  is  appreciated.  When  these  homes  extend  to 
and  within  the  bounds  and  bounties  of  surrounding  nature 
and  the  vigor  and  delights  and  healths  of  the  community 
are  understood,  the  benign  blessing  of  God  is  compre- 
hended, untrammeled  by  the  artifice  of  man.  These  beau- 
tiful features  are  the  undoubted  progress  of  ourselves. 
But,  God  forbid,  can  we  sink  to  the  level  of  beasts  again, 
when  we  denied  ourselves  our  blessings  and  harbored  our- 
selves worse  than  they  who  must  yield  before  us  ? 


252  THE   TROUBLE   OF  LIVING   ALONE. 

"In  these  beautiful  endeavors,  that  have  reached  into 
all  the  universe,  see  we  not  the  beckoning  reach  of  art,  of 
science,  of  knowledge,  of  truth  ?  Surely  there  is  a  balm 
to  be  sought  with  confidence  and  universal  fellowship. 

"  When  we  behold  in  our  midst,  in  this  renovated  and 
beautified,  reclaimed  field,  the  circle  in  which  we  are  now 
discoursing,  the  grand  structure  and  monument,  erected  to 
that  benign  genius  of  mankind,  whose  efforts  have  cast 
light  and  speed,  sound  and  sight  into  this  comprehensive 
universe,  then  may  Ave  not  rejoice  at  the  groveling  edi- 
fices that  have  been  removed  to  make  place  for  it  ?  The 
fire  of  electricity,  that  first  taught  the  mind  to  strive  for 
comprehension ! 

"To  engender  in  a  man's  own  industry  his  concentrated 
efforts  is  to  elevate  his  character. 

"As  in  former  times  the  rule  of  one  man  power,  or 
monarchical  government,  gave  way  to  confidence  in  the 
real  knowledge  of  the  elevation  of  responsible  man,  so  in 
industrial  enterprises  have  we  discovered  his  individual 
integrity.  Accomplished  after  the  knowledge  of  business 
men  and  the  so-called  respectable  people  was  reared 
beyond  their  mere  routines  and  after  their  moralities  were 
cleansed. 

"Thus  we  have  arrived  at  the  threshold  of  prosperity; 
the  light  of  day  has  dawned  upon  our  beaming  minds." 

A  great  burst  of  acclamation  greeted  this  admirable 
effort  and  man. 

It  is  true  this  day  has  advanced  far  beyond  even  the 
expectations  of  former  times,  but  thanks  to  their  progress- 
ive thinkers  and  principally  doers  we  are  in  enjoyment  of 
fellowship  and  that  humanity  that  enables  one  to  realize 
something  more  than  the  theoretical  eminence  of  man  in 
the  creation  of  things. 

Xothing  is  more  conspicuous  than  that  eminent  struc- 


A   TYPICAL  MEETING.  253 

ture,  referred  to  by  Mr.  Mason,  erected  in  New  York  cir- 
cle to  that  eminent  genius  of  light  who  flourished  there 
and  led  the  course  practically  to  our  emancipation,  first 
by  means,  then  in  thought  and  deed.  But  elsewhere,  and 
scattered  o'er  are  the  tributes  in  such  art  and  wonders  as 
man  seems  scarcely  then  to  have  dreamed  to  the  memories 
of  many  great  personages,  who  have  realized  the  destiny 
of  man  in  his  higher  and  highest  order  and  opened  the 
way. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  session  a  grand  exhibition  was 
given,  as  illustrative  of  the  many  features,  which  have 
now  arisen  to  give  still  greater  hope  for  the  future.  As 
may  be  apprehended  the  basis  laid  of  our  progress  and 
prosperity  is  knowledge  and  freedom  from  the  dominion  of 
man  in  the  realms  of  reason  and  force.  How  unchimerical 
this  is  in  practice  we  have  in  our  results.  Popular 
government  proven  the  truth,  abrogated  government  in 
interference  of  the  whole  and  responsibility  of  man 
acquired  as  the  service  to  the  union  of  mankind;  while 
those  ties  are  abolished,  depriving  man  of  his  natural 
responsibilities  and  depraving  him.  Such  sweet  regulation 
as  accompanies  civilization  is  the  destiny  of  elevation. 
The  exhibition  referred  to  was  a  magnificent  drill  and 
parade  of  school  children  over  the  immense  floor  of  the  hall 
solidly  laid  with  gold.  Their  feet  trod  the  mammon  of 
former  times.  No  greater  monument,  in  this  physical 
development  of  representation  produced,  could  have  been 
erected  to  the  originator  of  the  "  Rays  of  Light,"  than  this 
sublime  perpetuation  of  his  unique  but  divine  ideas,  though 
grand  works  of  art  commemorate  otherwise,  too,  this 
noble,  benign  old  seer. 

Where  the  old  business  blocks  have  given  their  place  of 
monopoly  to  bright  and  natural  scenes ;  when  following 
upon  the  periods  of  depression  the  same  means  that  had 


254  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

caused  them  were  organized,  and  had  caused  them  for  this 
purpose,  to  benefit  by  the  depreciations  thereof,  but  man- 
kind had  developed  a  new  insight,  aided  by  the  disclos- 
ures of  honest,  able  men ;  aided  by  the  electrical  currents 
of  physics  and  the  human  heart,  and  spread  the  concerns 
in  the  hands  of  the  individuals  all  over  the  world,  there 
upon  one  such  cleared  spot  commends  a  huge,  electrical 
buckeye  the  philosopher  Hilbuck  on  the  site  of  his  birth- 
place—  and  as  an  emblem  of  protection  against  "  internal 
disease."  Protection  must  come  from  without;  and  the 
trouble  is  of  living  alone — be  it  in  selfishness,  state  or 
society. 


ADDENDA. 


ADDENDA.  257 


ADDENDA. 


"That  distinguished  citizen's"  (an  ex-president)  "humble  carriage, 
to-day,  insures,  furthermore,  as  the  most  potent  worth  of  its  rulers,  the 
perpetuation  of  this  Republic."  —  A  diplomat. 

"  A  patron  of  education." 

He  paused  not  where  the  scions  said 
To  lift,  there,  an  imperial  head; 
But,  humbly  followed  with  his  clan — ■ 
Arm  side  by  arm,  man  with  the  man ! 

Not  cared  he,  that  he  should  be  known : 
The  cause  was  honored  by  what  was  shown 
To  meet  the  approval  of  his  heart 
In  pleased  procession  as  his  part. 

Such  dignity  never  bends  to  harm.; 
This  simple  pride  gives  the  alarm 
To  scheming  breakers  of  the  state; 
The  simple  mind  is  wisdom's  mate. 

The  gait,  which  so  unfaltering  stepped, 
Was  the  calm  pace  where  sages  wept : 
To  find  the  like  had  saved  great  realms ; 
Ah !  with  such  minds  at  statecrafts'  helms ! 

With  what  awed  feeling  viewed  the  throng 
This  man,  so  plain,  forever  strong; 
For,  naught  will  blemish  his  pure  shield, 
Which  he  has  shown  how,  well,  to  wield. 

A  simple  act  lives  thousand's  long ; 
Pride  must  crush  that  where  it  among 
To  gain  distinction  tramples  right ; 
,  Thus,  fares  extinction  by  its  might. 


258  THE  TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

In  word  the  deed,  a  servant's  meed 
Is  his  distinction  by  his  creed ; 
That,  which  he  follows,  is  his  word; 
That,  as  he  goes,  his  deed,  his  lord. 

Therewith  you  judge  him,  without  fear, 
This  is,  your  fellow-man's  career  — 
Therewith  you  honor  him  for  time, 
Forever  and  fore'er  the  same. 

And,  on  that  day,  he  served  that  cause 
Beyond  all  oratory,  laws  — 
He  preached  no  sermon — yet,  there  lives 
In  history,  its,  which  lie  there  gives. 

With  blessings  such  a  man  goes  hence, 
With  blessings  there  received,  and  whence 
The  spirit  of  his  last  act  and  ways 
Will  make  immortal — virtuous  Hayes. 


DEDICATED   TO   THE   MEMORY 


CHRISTOPHER   COLUMBUS. 


1894. 


COL  UMB  US.  261 


COLUMBUS. 


(Dedicated  to  the  Duke  of  Veragua.) 

Whence  blew  the  fearful  storm-wind  of  your  sorrow  — 
And  let  you  hope,  when  others  would  have  quailed; 

Whence  was  it  that  your  Faith  could  ever  borrow, 

Hence  thus  you  found  where  others  would  have  failed. 

When  storms  blew  hard,  no  less  dissension's  voice, 
Your  ever  tried  and  stilled  tongue  spoke,  Peace ; 

Nor  did  you  quail,  when  scarcely  an  earth's  choice 
Gave  you  upon  its  domain  any  ease. 

As  flight  of  bird  is,  for  conjecture,  course, 
So,  are  the  likely  comments  of  most  men ; 

Nor  most,  for  hope,  who  have  the  greatest  source, 
The  least  may  drivel  to  their  utmost  ken. 

Ah,  with  what  sorrow  must,  e'er,  ignorant  cant 
Roam  in  the  light  of  future,  illumed  days ! 

The  bliss  of  knowledge  is,  then,  no  more  scant, 
Than  when  sequences  do  not  heed  their  ways. 

We  feel  your  weight  of  woe,  now,  that  we  know 
How  right  were  your  endeavors  and  your  creed, 

In  substance,  though,  what  little  depth  did  show, 
Your  brethren  did  retard  your  wisdom's  speed. 

Whence  sped  that  wisdom,  to  your  meagre  range, 
And  caused  your  faithful  soul  to  glow  therewith  ? 

And  whither  flew  it,  when  all  thoughts  were  strange, 
To  stay,  abidance,  for  the  ever  myth  ? 

And  oft  you  paced  a  painless  deck  at  night, 

In  sweet  communication  with  your  certain  hope  — 

Oft,  there  was  solace  which  another's  fright 

Had  turned  to  gall  and  bitter  wormwood's  scope. 


282  THE    TROUBLE  OF  LIVING  ALONE. 

Why  did  you  not  concern  yourself  for  power  — 
Why  were  not  worldly  glories  all  your  ends  ? 

You  sped  o'er  seas,  that  troubled  every  hour  — 
You  caused  your  sighs  to  offer  all  amends. 

Ah!  faintless  —  had  your  heart  not  known  its  store, 
'Tis  doubtful,  that  one  thought  or  deed  had  fostered  — 

There  were  the  creeds,  which  left  you,  all  the  more, 
By  which  your  every  solemn  creed  was  pestered. 

'Twas  less  the  object  of  discovered  land, 

Than  that  your  Faith  had  learned  its  plenteous  creed  — 
An  independent  creed  —  from  God's  demand. 

Alone,  a  solemn  version  of  "  God-speed !  " 

No  church  nor  state  or  dominance  of  man 
Could  ever  quell  such  outburst  of  the  soul  — 

Nor  did  it  owe,  thus,  even,  its  brief  span!  — 
Betrayed  it  would  have  lost  its  complex  whole. 

When  thou  hast  fought  and,  falling,  hast  sworn  true, 

Up  sped  the  incense  of  a  virtuous  vow 
And  you  were  worthy  of  no  name  ;  but,  through 

The  speeding  sense  of  Imminence  Art  Thou  ! 

Your  Master  may  not  speak  in  thunderous  tones 
Nor  hush  His  silent  Breath  in  speechless  vows; 

It  is  not  imminence,  alone,  atones 
Nor  fallacy,  by  speeding,  that  allows. 

In  what  a  prayer  is  uttered,  so,  it  speeds  — 

It  passes  over  every  thought  and  range 
Nor  is  delayed,  detained,  whate'er,  its  needs, 

Is  fostered  over  every  list  and  mange. 

A  prayer  is  true,  because  it  finds  the  truth 

And,  ever,  is  fulfilled  for  every  wish  — 
Constrained  and  sadly,  never  lost,  forsooth, 

It  finds  its  solace,  then  its  ends'  finish. 

In  recollecting,  now,  your  deeds  and  fame, 

It  is  no  less,  that  we  ascribe  them  true; 
In  having  seen,  with  us,  who  bear  your  name, 

We  cherish  that,  which  was  but  simply  due. 


COLUMBUS.  263 

That  gentle  maid,  that  youth,  who  saw  our  might, 
With  which  it  was  our  "grace"  to  entertain  — 

But  saw  reflected  what  may  come  of  right; 
This  principle  we  ask  them  to  maintain. 

Maintain  their  ancestor's  benignant  Faith  — 

Recall,  no  "nobleman"  was,  greatly,  he, 
When  all  the  world  became  in  aftermath 

His  pure  admirers  from  a  people's  see. 

As  self-styled  gentry,  trust  a  people's  vows, 

Who  have  not  catered  to  a  cringing  lot  — 
Found,  for  the  world,  here,  are  no  empty  shows  — 

Here  is  devised  his  own,  his  sole,  pure  plot. 

Learned  from  sublimest  lesson  of  this  life : 

An  ancestor's  desire  and  his  fray ; 
Seen,  when  the  scene  of  all  his  thoughts  were  rife  — 

What  thought,  what  right,  that  you  should  hence  delay  ? 

But,  being  noble,  of  this  Country,  sole  — 

What  other  title  such  estate  as  this  ? 
There  leaves  you  but  one  stake  for  honor's  role 

To  cast  all  other  ranks  aside,  amiss . 

And,  with  these  people,  feel  your  honors  grow  — 
As,  by  the  people,  thus,  he  glorys,  hence  — 

And  for  all  people  let  yourselves  bestow, 

Then  this  your  land  will  serve  your  virtuous  sense. 

Democracy  is  truth  and  truth  untorn  : 

Nobility  is  wrath  and  that,  too,  steeped  ; 
When  realms  have  passed  with  scions,  there,  forlorn, 

Perceive  all  kings  where  each  has  not  o'erleaped. 

No  staid  reward  can  fit  Columbus'  blood, 

Than  such,  that  would  not,  save  for  people's  good ; 

Himself  aspiring,  let  us  place  your  spud 
With  all  aspirants  for,  here,  hardihood. 


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